Review: A rousing, triumphant 'Alamo'
Film works on big, small levels
By Paul Clinton
CNN Reviewer
(CNN) -- "The Alamo" is not only a brilliant epic, it's also that rare breed: an epic that's also a character study -- in this case, of the men who fought and died at a battle that changed the history of the United States.
The film sweeps you back to the spring of 1836, when the huge territory we now know as Texas was part of Mexico and ruled by the Mexican dictator Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (played by Emilio Echevarria). But other men had other ideas for the future of an independent Texas. They included Gen. Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) and an army of hundreds of like-minded ordinary men.
The battle of the Alamo was a major turning point in gaining that independence, but the events surrounding that bloody conflict have been turned into mythology. This film, expertly directed by John Lee Hancock, tries to separate the myth from the facts and humanize the handful of men who died at that tiny outpost while fighting against thousands of highly trained Mexican soldiers.
In history, and in legend, three men stand out: Lt. Col. William Travis (Patrick Wilson), James Bowie (Jason Patric) and David (or, as we know him now, "Davy") Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton). Travis was a brash young military officer suddenly left in charge of the Alamo, while the others -- especially Crockett -- were already living legends.
In reality, the men who fought at the Alamo were a motley group of soldiers, farmers, lawyers, tradesmen, cowboys and even a few black slaves fighting at the sides of their masters. All were there for different reasons, and many actually disliked each other. But for 13 days, they fought off Santa Anna's entire army and became immortalized.
Hearts and souls
 Billy Bob Thornton, as David "Davy" Crockett, gives a marvelous performance, says Clinton. |  |
There have been more than a dozen films made about the Alamo over the years, but none has captured the hearts and souls of the people there better than this one.
Hancock gives his main characters -- and some minor ones -- moments that flesh out their backgrounds, their flaws and their strengths. He lets the audience connect to characters in an emotional way that many epic adventure films never do.
As usual, Thornton, as Crockett, is a standout. His David (apparently the real Crockett hated the nickname "Davy") is a man, not a myth, and at one point says, "If it was just simple ol' David from Tennessee, I might drop over that wall and take my chances. But that Davy Crockett fellow, they're all watching him." Thornton also has a nifty exit line.
Patric is terrific as Bowie, though in the film -- as in history -- he spends most of the battle dying slowly from consumption.
Excellence all around
|  Clinton calls Wilson "the real surprise" in praising his performance as Lt. Col. William Travis. |
But Wilson is the real surprise here.
Best known for his work on Broadway -- he was nominated for Tony Awards for both "The Full Monty" and a recent revival of "Oklahoma" -- Wilson also appeared in the award-winning HBO production of "Angels In America." "The Alamo" is the first chance he's had to strut his stuff on the big screen, and his character goes through the greatest changes as he rises to the challenge of a command for which he was ill-prepared.
At one point, Bowie says to Travis, "You live five more years, you just might be a great man." To which Travis replies, "I think I will probably have to settle for what I am right now."
In addition to the way the now-mythic characters are brought down to a human level, the best thing about this production of "The Alamo" is that Hancock has made everything look and feel so authentic. And while the final battle is shot in epic proportions, he doesn't use every computer-generated trick in the book -- as so many directors are so fond of these days -- to make his point.
"Remember the Alamo" is one of the great battle cries in American history. This film brings home the point that freedom and liberty come with a price, and at times great sacrifice -- lessons needed as much today as they were then.
"The Alamo" opens nationwide on Friday, April 9, and is rated PG-13.
