Now Showing: Caesar Part III

 

Caesar Part III

Genre: Historical/Biography/Epic

Director: Christopher Nolan

Writers: John Malone & Chad Taylor

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Uma Thurman, Will Poulter, Douglas Booth, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Steve Coogan, Zachary Quinto, Matilda De Angelis, Michael Cimino, Walker Scobell, Raffey Cassidy, Stephen Graham, Gabriella Wilde

Plot: The Year is 53 BC. Julius Caesar (Leonardo DiCaprio) wakes up in a cold sweat. He and his army are in the thick of the Gallic Wars, currently camped outside of a Gallic stronghold of Alesia that has proven impenetrable as dozens of thousands of Gallic soldiers stand watch. Caesar stares worryingly at a shadow in the corner of his room before Mark Antony (Douglas Booth) enters with urgent news. The Gauls are sending reinforcements so the Romans must decide swiftly their next move. Caesar stares at the shadow in the corner once more before leaving the tent.

In the middle of the night, Caesar and his lieutenants wake up the Roman soldiers. He instructs them of their plan: they will build a double-sided fort around Alesia. The outer wall will block the reinforcements while the inner wall will starve the soldiers in town by cutting off their supplies. He then adds that they should make one section of the fort vulnerable. Antony gives him a worrying look and Caesar whispers that you must always think like your enemies if you want to out-maneuver them. The soldiers, tired and haggard, are initially resistant as they will need to work nonstop to build the 20 miles worth of support. Caesar starts to talk but then offers for Antony to rouse up the soldiers instead. Caesar's protege seizes the opportunity and is able to convince the soldiers that this is the smartest move for them.

After an intensive building process, the Gallic reinforcements arrive and attack the outside fort as their soldiers in Alesia attack the inside fort. The Gallic strategy fails miserably as some break through the flaw in the wall and fall right into Caesar's trap. The Roman soldiers are able to capitalize on this and successfully siege Alesia while holding off the soldiers on the outside. After the siege ends, Mark Antony gives Caesar a nod of approval and says that the people of Rome are going to love him for this.

Later, in 48 BC, Julius Caesar is the dictator of Rome. Despite the immense power he wields, Caesar has quickly grown bored without a powerful enemy to conquer. He is reminded by his wife Calpurnia (Daisy Edgar-Jones) that it will soon be the anniversary of the death of his daughter Julia. He is depressed when he realizes that it has now been eight years since her death during childbirth but the occasion has yet to be truly acknowledged. Calpurnia then lays down on the bed, naked, suggesting that trying to make an heir can help Caesar take his mind off other things. Caesar disrobes and has quick dispassionate sex with his wife.

At the Roman Forum, Caesar tells the Roman Senate, now seemingly led by the younger upstart Cassius Longinus (Zachary Quinto), that he plans on throwing a massive event in the heart of Rome in his late daughter’s honor. Cassius is against the idea as he feels it wouldn’t be in good taste to throw a fortune away on what amounts to a funeral party, but he acknowledges that in today’s Rome the Senate holds little real power. He wants it to be the biggest event in generations with stage plays, chariot races, gladiator battles, beast fights and exotic displays. Caesar tasks Falco (Stephen Graham), the master of ceremonies at the Roman Colosseum, with bringing life to his vision of the events. Caesar tells Falco that cost is no object in putting on the best possible show to honor Julia. Falco tells Caesar that it will take a bit of time to line up all the events, but that he will start working on it immediately. Caesar thanks Falco, and is sure to remind him how important it is that the games on display be grand.

Caesar gives a grand announcement of the games in Julia’s honor at the Roman Forum. After he is done giving a short speech about his daughter, a woman charges at Caesar, trying to stab him with a short sword. Mark Antony pushes Caesar out of the way and stabs the woman in the heart, killing her. Caesar demands to know why the woman attacked him. Antony inspects the sword the woman used, quickly surmising that the woman must have been the spouse of a soldier who died in the Gallic Wars.

Caesar tells Calpurnia that the assassination attempt opened his eyes. He isn’t afraid of dying, but he is afraid of what will happen to Rome should he meet an untimely end. Caesar bemoans not having a male heir to the throne. Calpurnia is apologetic, but Caesar is uninterested in hearing it. He instead asks if he has any male descendants that could be groomed as a successor in case he never has a son of his own. Calpurnia thinks about the family tree, finally proposing Caesar’s nephew Octavius, the son of his niece Atia.

Caesar and a large procession, including Antony and Calpurnia, take the road leading away from Rome to the southeast until they arrive in the rural village of Velletri. When they arrive, Caesar and Calpurnia are greeted warmly by Caesar’s niece Atia (Gabriella Wilde). She mentioned that she is surprised by the visit as Caesar has never come to town for one before. Caesar tells her that he wishes it was just a family visit, but that there is serious business to conduct that will affect the future of the entire Roman Empire. They all sit down on a balcony looking over a field where Octavius (Walker Scobell) rides on horseback. Caesar motions toward the boy and tells Atia that he wishes to adopt the boy and make him his official heir, at least until he and Calpurnia can make a son of his own. Atia isn’t thrilled with the idea of her son leaving home at such a young age, but Caesar insists that Octavius and Atia will both be treated like royalty. Atia calls Octavius in from the field. Octavius dismounts from his horse and runs over to his mother. Atia introduces her son to her great-uncle Julius Caesar for the first time. Octavius quickly kneels down to show respect to the leader of Rome. Atia informs her son that he will be leaving with Caesar for Rome where he will live now. Octavius is heartbroken to leave Velletri. Caesar and Calpurnia escort Octavius away from the property while Antony stays behind to give Atia a payment of gold.

Caesar, Calpurnia, and Octavius return to Rome to a crowd to greet their arrival. Near the back of the onlookers, Servilia (Uma Thurman) observes intently. She visits the home of her son Brutus (Will Poulter), where is currently writing a pamphlet telling the life of his mentor Cato the Younger. Months have passed since Cato's death but it still weighs on Brutus, who has since gotten married to a young woman named Claudia. Servilia tells him that she is here to deliver some disappointing news. She had heard rumors and now has seen it with her own two eyes: Caesar has decided on an heir who is not even his direct kin. Brutus continues writing, acting as if he is not even listening, before slamming his fist down angrily. After a brief silence, he asks her if this was her fault, this rejection. She is initially angry at this line of questioning but can tell that her son is hurting, for multiple reasons. She sits next to him and reminds him that he can forge his own path. Write his pamphlet, bear children with Claudia, perhaps even become a senator some day. His anger resigns.

Now resuming his political duties, Caesar has requested the presence of Cicero, an old political foe. Beforehand, Mark Antony pulls Caesar aside and advises against bringing back someone who fought so adamantly against them. Caesar reminds Cicero is in a weak position, exiled from his own home, and thus that gives them something to gain. Cicero (Steve Coogan) is nervous amidst his return to Rome. To his relief, Cicero is pardoned by Caesar, who thanks him for pulling out his support of Pompey and Cato towards the end. Cicero is honestly unsure what to say but is grateful to be on Caesar's good side for once. As they talk, Cicero notices young Octavius playing in the courtyard and asks Caesar about him. Caesar is honest in wanting to raise Octavius to be his heir as dictator, at least for now. After a thoughtful gaze, Cicero asks if he could repay Caesar's favor and teach Octavius the political ropes of Rome. Caesar admits that he is a busy man and, if there's anyone who has the wealth of knowledge to pass down, it would be Cicero. He agrees to Cicero's proposal.

The games in Julia’s honor are finally set to begin as Caesar is taken to the Colosseum in an extravagant parade. The people of Rome are marveled by the sight of giraffes and elephants being led through the streets. The games get off to a rousing start as a gladiator squares off against a large Eurasian brown bear. After an intense, but short battle, the gladiator manages to slay the bear. Falco orders his crew to clean up the bear carcass for the next event. During the next event, a trio of golden chariots race around the arena. Calpurnia questions the extravagance and cost of the golden chariots, angering Caesar. After several bloody gladiator duels, Falco announces the end of the first night of the games to the crowd after a brief stage play re-enacting the birth of Julia.

As the events escalate, Cassius is angered by what he perceives as Caesar using barbaric entertainment to distract the people of Rome from his own exertion of power. This mainly falls on deaf ears given Caesar's undeniable power, although he does find some support amongst the lingering Cato supporters at a small memorial for the fallen Senator. Cassius runs into Brutus, who he remembers to be one of Cato's proteges. Brutus is honored to talk with a politician of growing stature. Cassius offers his sympathies over the loss of Cato, whom he considered a friend. They look across the room at Cato's daughters and says that he really feels for them; young and fatherless. As he talks, Brutus makes brief eye contact with the eldest daughter, Portia (Raffey Cassidy), who shares her father's eyes. He asks if she is betrothed or not. Cassius says she is not, although the legions of supporters for her father could likely use someone to rally behind and whoever she marries would be a prime candidate.

During the next day of the games, the crowd has apparently become desensitized to the violence of gladiator combat as they are not as uproarious as they were the day before. Caesar orders Falco to immediately bring out the most exciting event he has planned. Falco nervously agrees. The next event is a group of gladiators pitted against an entire pride of lions. Caesar watches on with Antony, Calpurnia and Octavian at his side. As the lions maul the gladiators, Calpurnia covers Octavian’s eyes. Soon the entire group of gladiators have been killed by the lions and Falco must call in the lion tamers to round them up. Caesar looks out over the crowd in the Colosseum, which has grown deathly quiet with discomfort.

The Senate demands a meeting with Caesar over the financial burden his games are putting on the entire empire of Rome. Caesar says that he still doesn’t care what the actual financial cost of the events are as he cares more about honoring his daughter’s memory. Cassius comments that he doesn’t think Julia would be pleased with the blood shed during the games, and he doesn’t think that her husband Pompey would be pleased either. Mark Antony raises a sword to Cassius’ throat, ready to kill Cassius. Caesar tells Antony to stand down before leaving. Caesar goes home to Calpurnia where he mourns the death of both his daughter as well as Pompey. Calpurnia asks why he’s so broken up about Pompey. Caesar tells her that he regards Pompey as the only worthy adversary he ever faced and it was a travesty that he was erroneously killed by forces in Egypt trying to curry favor with Caesar and Rome. Caesar decides to set sail for Egypt to confront Pompey’s murderers. He publicly names Antony as the governor of Italy, entrusting him to maintain order in Rome while he is away to find and punish those who beheaded Pompey. Caesar waves goodbye to a crowd as he sails across the sea with a small legion at his disposal.

As Caesar and his legion approach Alexandria, the entire ship is in awe at the sight of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the tallest man-made structure in the known world. As they make their approach, Caesar regales the men in the story of how the city was founded by Alexander the Great nearly 300 years earlier. As soon as their ship makes it to the Great Harbor of Alexandria, Caesar and his legion immediately and expertly seize the port. Caesar demands an immediate presence with King Ptolemy or else he will have the entire force of the Roman military destroy the city. The guards at the port quickly give in to Caesar’s demands and escort him and most of his legion to the royal palace of Alexandria. Caesar is greeted by the young Ptolemy XIII (Michael Cimino) - the King of Egypt. Caesar is surprised by the youthfulness of the king. He demands to know why his friend Pompey was beheaded. Ptolemy tries to explain that he was attempting to show loyalty to Caesar with the act. He feared that Pompey was trying to maintain a base of operations for his war against Caesar in Egypt, which would only bring the war across the sea to his lands and hurt the people of Alexandria and other Egyptian cities. Caesar asks Ptolemy who gave him this idea as it does seem like the thoughts of such a young man. Ptolemy claims he was simply acting on the advice of the advisors his father set into place to help him run Egypt. Caesar coldly tells Ptolemy that his so-called advisors had him behead and murder his best friend and someone must pay for that. Ptolemy calls his advisors into the room. They enter alongside Ptolemy's sister, Cleopatra (Matilda De Angelis). Ptolemy then orders his guards to behead the group of advisors as an act of goodwill toward Caesar and his Roman empire. Cleopatra and Caesar catch each other’s eyes as the guards drag away the dead, headless bodies. Caesar comments that it would seem his work in Egypt is done, but Ptolemy insists that Caesar stay at the palace as a guest of honor. The city can throw a great feast in honor of his visit. Caesar agrees and is escorted to the guest chambers.

Late at night, Caesar stays up to write a letter back to Rome when Cleopatra sneaks into his chambers. She informs him that Ptolemy is completely incompetent and cannot be trusted. Caesar asks why she speaks of her own brother this way, and she replies that in their father's will, he asked that both herself and Ptolemy should rule Egypt together, but now Ptolemy is forcing her to marry him as part of a loophole that would give him complete power over Egypt. Cleopatra insists she must be going before she is found outside of her chambers. She kisses Caesar on the cheek and asks him to help her for the sake of the futures of both of their empires. After Cleopatra leaves, Caesar sits back down to finish his letter, which he seals with a wax stamp.

In Rome, Brutus takes Portia down a scenic path as they get to know each other better. He tells her about his suspected belief that Caesar is his father and Caesar’s harsh rejection. She clearly holds a hatred towards Julius as well given his rivalry with her father. Eventually the conversation turns and, as he speaks, she leans in to kiss him but apologizes, knowing he is married. He traces his finger across the palm of her hand before passionately kissing her.

Afterwards, he visits his mother and tells her that he plans to divorce Claudia and marry Portia. Servilia is incensed to hear this, asking if it a bit rash. She says that he already has a loving wife and one that is the daughter of a powerful senator. He can’t help but laugh, saying of course she would bring up how he’s just a political puppet for her. She tries to hold his hand but he pulls away. He tells her that he’s done playing games for others. She becomes stern and demands that he stay here and talk this out. He leaves, instead.

Ptolemy throws a grand feast in honor of Caesar and his legion at the palace, complete with wine, food and dancing. Ptolemy gives a toast to Caesar and his men, proclaiming the evening to be the start of a great period of friendship and peace between Rome and Egypt. Caesar drinks to the toast and smiles at Cleopatra. During the festive revelry, Ptolemy grows jealous when he spots Caesar and Cleopatra exchanging glances. That evening, Caesar once again retires to the palace’s guest chambers. He is soon joined by Cleopatra. He informs her that he sent off a letter that morning off to the rest of his legion at the Great Harbor telling them to collect men from any nearby legions and for them to come to Alexandria at once. Cleopatra asks how long that could take. Caesar says it shouldn’t take long at all, a day at most, for more troops to come as he has legions stationed all throughout the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Cleopatra thanks Caesar before completely disrobing in front of him. She then lays naked, sprawled across the bed, offering herself to Caesar. He climbs on top of her, and together the two ravenously make love. In the morning, Ptolemy finds Caesar and Cleopatra in bed together. He throws his crown to the ground and storms off in anger, loudly declaring Cleopatra as a traitor to Egypt. The commotion awakens Caesar and Cleopatra. She panics, thinking that Ptolemy will have them killed before Caesar’s forces arrive. He tries to calm her, insisting that they have the element of surprise over him. All they have to do is stay alive and string Ptolemy along long enough for his reinforcements to arrive in Alexandria. Cleopatra passionately kisses Caesar. She tells him that she had a dream where together they brought Rome and Egypt together as one great empire and ruled the lands together as king and queen.

Caesar and Cleopatra go to leave the palace to join up with his legion which already took control of the Great Harbor upon his arrival in Egypt, but Ptolemy refuses to let them leave the building. Ptolemy then calls upon his guards, ordering them to keep his whore sister and Caesar from leaving. Caesar asks to see Ptolemy XII’s will, as he thinks the guards would like to know who they should really be serving. Cleopatra accidentally reveals that Caesar has legions of soldiers on their way to Alexandria. Ptolemy isn’t sure whether to believe his sister’s boisterous claim and finally agrees to allow Caesar to leave, but Cleopatra must stay in the palace. Caesar prepares to draw his sword, but Cleopatra stops him and agrees to her brother’s demand. Caesar kisses her and assures her that he will be back for her. Caesar returns to the Great Harbor just as several Roman ships are arriving from Cyprus. Caesar calls upon every soldier present at the Great Harbor and announces that they are going to assault the royal palace and overthrow the current king, Ptolemy XIII, in favor of Cleopatra.

When Ptolemy sees Caesar’s legions marching toward the palace, he panics. He attacks Cleopatra but he locks herself in her chambers, with Ptolemy unable to reach her. As Caesar’s army gets closer, Ptolemy decides he must flee the palace. Caesar confronts Ptolemy, but Caesar doesn’t see the young Ptolemy as a physical threat and lets him leave, instead choosing to ensure Cleopatra’s safety. Caesar finds Cleopatra’s chambers and convinces her to come out to him. Ptolemy runs from the palace and gets into a small raft and attempts to sail away from Alexandria, but is stopped in his tracks when he sees the Roman naval ships that have already taken the Great Harbor. Caesar and Cleopatra leave the palace and see Ptolemy’s raft sitting in the water with nowhere to go. Ptolemy finally jumps from his boat and attempts to swim back to shore. Caesar orders some soldiers to arrest Ptolemy as soon as he makes it back. Cleopatra tells him that will not be necessary as her brother cannot swim. Ptolemy flails in the water before finally disappearing under the surface, drowning to death. Caesar proclaims that Cleopatra is now the Queen of Egypt and anybody who takes issue with that will have to take it up with the might of Rome.

In Rome, Servilia, still angry over her son’s actions, goes to confront who she believes to be culpable: Cassius. However, she instead runs into Calpurnia, who is on a walk with Cicero and Octavian. Calpurnia says she is sorry to her about her son’s divorce, they seemed like a happy couple. Servilia, knowing Calpurnia’s disdain for her over his ongoing affection, takes this as a underhanded dig and says her son will alright. She asks about Calpurnia’s son while looking directly at Octavian, who Cicero is quick to usher away from this confrontation. Calpurnia clenches her teeth as Servilia “remembers” that Calpurnia has not given Caesar a real son yet. “But I guess that’s why Egypt, right? On to his next tryst?”. Calpurnia eventually smiles and says that Servilia can stay bitter knowing that her progeny will never be acknowledged as the son of the most powerful man in Roman history.

Before Caesar is set to return to his duties in Rome, Cleopatra takes Caesar on a cruise down the Nile River on a large and ornate thalamegos ship to show him some of the ancient Egyptian monuments, such as the Giza pyramids and the Luxor Temple. The two make love on the beach of the Nile and are married by an Egyptian priest. Caesar promises to one day send for her to join him, and together they will be able to fulfill the dream she had about them ruling a great kingdom together.

At a small ceremony of his own, Brutus is married to Portia. Amongst those in attendance are various family members and supporters of Cato but Servilia is absent. Cassius arrives late and this catches Portia’s eye. She encourages Brutus to go talk with Cassius to see what could be done about Caesar. They approach him and Cassius congratulates them on their marriage, saying he always knew they’d make a good match. Brutus asks if they could briefly talk.

The two of them go on a short walk and Brutus asks if Cassius has heard about Caesar’s ongoing actions in Egypt. He says that he has and that he finds it painful more than anything. He says that he’s the eldest of three sons born to his mother. His younger brothers were never brighter than him but they were honorable young men. Brutus asks if he knows either of them. Cassius shakes his head and says that both were killed in Caesar’s Civil War. And so as he sees this man continue to sacrifice the lives of others for his own personal vendettas and glory, it hits home. Brutus is angered hearing this, given his own misgivings with Caesar. He asks what they can do formally to stop him. “What if we kill him?,” Brutus asks, almost immediately backpedaling on this suggestion. But Cassius is receptive. He says that there is clearly a growing contingent of senators fed up with the near-divine treatment of Caesar. Brutus adds that there are those of his age who see no path forward in a political system based on the dictatorship of one man and eventually his “descendants.” They debate when the best time to do it would be and say he will need to be relatively isolated from Antony and other supporters, eventually landing on the Ides of March—the date when new senators will be sworn in.

Upon his return to Rome, Caesar has renewed vigor regarding Roman politics, in part to set an example for Octavian. He re-distributes parts of the surrounding farmlands to the thousands of veterans who fought under his watch, echoing a move that Pompey attempted and failed before the Triumvirate. Back at his home, there is an unspoken tension with Calpurnia but she does not ask about his time in Egypt, despite hearing the rumors. On the eve of the Ides of March, Calpurnia lays restless as she recalls the assassination attempt by the woman at the Forum. She finds herself struggling for breath and turns in bed to find her husband in a pool of blood. She clings to his lifeless body and screams in agony. This awakens Caesar in reality, who shakes his wife awake and tells her she is dreaming. She is in tears and tells him of her dream before begging him to retreat from public life for a while. He calms her down, saying that it is just a dream, not an omen. He holds her until she falls back asleep, now with his own eyes wide awake.

Caesar arrives outside the Senate House, late, finding Antony stalling for him until he could arrive. Caesar announces that they can now begin the Ides of March and swear in the newly elected senators. Caesar then enters the theatre ahead of everyone else outside. Antony goes to follow him but he is tackled and held down on the ground. He tries to call out for Caesar, but Caesar cannot hear him inside the building. Caesar takes his seat to begin the proceedings. Cassius and several other senators surround Caesar. He jokingly tells them that they may sit now that he is seated. Two of the senators pin Caesar's shoulders against his seat. Caesar violently throws one of the men down to the ground, but is stabbed in the side with a dagger by the other. Caesar is then attacked from all directions, sustaining slashes and stabs to his face, thigh and back. Caesar attempts to fight back, but trips and falls off the stage. He begins crawling away from his attackers, bleeding profusely. He makes it to the entrance of the building where he is stopped in his tracks at the base of a half-built statue of his old rival Pompey Magnus. The senators surround Caesar once again. Brutus then emerges from the crowd holding a dagger. Caesar mutters, "You too, Brutus?" Brutus chokes back tears as he stabs Caesar in the heart, killing him. As Caesar lay lifeless in a pool of his own blood. Cassius suggests they kill Antony to avoid any future retribution, but Brutus stops him, stating that their mission was to take down a tyrant, not kill everyone in their way as that would make them no better than Caesar. They release Antony. He initially is ready to avenge Caesar's murder right then and there, but seeing how outnumbered he is, Antony retreats. Brutus, Cassius and their conspirators march through the city announcing that Rome is free once again, but the citizens do not rejoice. People begin gathering near Caesar's body in shock. Finally a few of them decide that it is not respectful to leave him there. They pick up Caesar's body and carry it through the city streets toward Caesar's home.

Later, Caesar's loved ones gather at the Roman Forum to pay their respects and witness his cremation. Calpurnia chooses not to speak, instead kissing her husband's forehead and then returning to Octavius's side and weeping quietly to herself. Marc Antony leads the ceremonies and eulogizes his friend, recalling some battlefield tales but also Julius's undeniable charm. Eventually, though, Antony's eulogy turns into a rousing speech about the state of Rome in Caesar's death. He says that they will hold Caesar's assassins accountable and ensure that his will is carried out through the ascent of Octavius as the eventual leader of Rome. He lights the funeral pyre, illuminating the faces of the grieving onlookers. The shot of the fire transitions into fires at the Roman Senate, where scores of lower-class townspeople are rioting over the assassination. The Roman Republic is well and truly dead.

After Caesar's funeral, Antony reads some of Caesar's journals where he learns of the true nature of his relationship with Cleopatra in Egypt. Believing she deserves to hear of her lover's death in person rather than from a messenger, Antony sets sail for Egypt just as his mentor had done. When Antony arrives at Cleopatra's royal palace, he discovers that she has an infant son. Antony gives her the news of Caesar's death. She becomes briefly emotional before regaining her composure. Cleopatra calls her son Caesarion. Antony, sensing Cleopatra's love for Caesar, comments that the boy has a strong name. Cleopatra tells Antony that she named him after his father, Julius Caesar.