[4]

I knew I would eventually have to watch this 3-hour 20-minute behemoth and thank goodness it's over. Doctor Zhivago is a sprawling epic about the Russian Revolution as seen through the eyes of a doctor (Omar Sharif) who wants to have his cake (his wife is played by Geraldine Chaplin) and eat it, too (his mistress is played by Julie Christie). The first half is dense with plotting and myriad characters -- I was getting pretty sleepy. But once Zhivago becomes an exile, I became more alert and the movie picked up speed. Still, when it was all over, I was underwhelmed. He loved two women, he inspired a nation, and I just didn't care.

From what I can tell, most people like this movie for the scenery and beauty of it all. Let’s address this issue head-on, shall we: David Lean movies are long, boring but exquisitely beautiful films. Lawrence of Arabia holds together better as a narrative. This movie is all over the place. The first half focuses on the Bolshevik Revolution much more than the characters, and the second half does the opposite so much so that the plot is resolved like a footnote within the last 10 minutes. It’s a lop-sided screenplay. And Maurice Jarre’s Oscar-winning score, which I like, is not so great in the actual film itself. It seems like whatever original music Jarre wrote was thrown out and instead we get Lara’s Theme over and over and over and over and over again. I think the one thing I will carry away from this movie is the feeling of isolation and danger the movie evokes when Zhivago, Lara, and Lara’s little girl take up shelter in a frozen wasteland while wolves howl in the distance… anyhow, I wish it all came together for me.

Academy Awards: Best Score, Best Adapted Screenplay (from the novel by Boris Pasternak), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design