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RATING:  
SINGAPORE : He is the celebrated and cerebral Chilean-born Spanish director who gave us "The Others" and "The Sea Inside". She is the Oscar-winning British actress who competently delivers whether she's green-screening it in commercial blockbusters ("The Mummy"), being effervescent in brit-coms ("About A Boy") or working it in high dramas ("The Constant Gardner" and "The Lovely Bones").
One instantly expects this powerful pairing of Alejandro Amenabar and Rachel Weisz in a story about philosopher Hypatia during the rise of Christianity in 4th century Alexandria to be an epic toga hit right out of the park. Yet, this historical costumer is strangely un-involving.
Perhaps it stems from a lack of engaging supporting characters and an under-whelming amalgam of unfolding events. Which is a shame, seeing as the eternal conundrum of religion versus science and man's place within it makes for a fascinating premise.
That said, Amenabar's expected visual eye is impressively sweeping, with several meticulously constructed violent street battle scenes set against grand-scale lavish backdrops. Weiz is also on-form with her usual beguiling best but is let down by the increasing melodrama and uneven writing. Which then results in a beautiful but overwrought atmosphere that doesn't deliver the emotional impact the genre requires. Heavy but nonetheless interesting for those who really care.
- TODAY/il
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