MOVIE: AGORA

In Agora, Alejandro Amenábar’s ambitiously staged historical drama, Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) stars as Hypatia, a pagan philosopher, mathematician and astronomer who lives in 4th century AD Alexandria under the rule of the Roman Empire. Tenaciously devoted to the wisdom of the ancient world, as well as her own controversial theories, Hypatia is condemned by the Christian Church, whose zealots plot to overthrow the city’s polytheistic and Jewish belief systems. Amenábar’s first directorial effort since 2004’s Academy Award winning The Sea Inside features lavish set-pieces, breathtaking cinematography and confident performances from Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom and the ever-reliable Weisz, whose heroine is all moxie. Unfortunately, Agora is hampered by an irritating use of slow-mo, an overly bombastic soundtrack and a bloated narrative that affords the enchanting Hypatia far too little screen-time. All in all, for all its flaws, Amenábar’s latest is a sumptuous visual feast that offers candid insights into the often-fractured relationship between politics, science and faith. (JH)