This Carol Reed production of Irving Stone's magnificent novel topped the bestseller list for 83 weeks. The movie gives us entrance into an era of art that saw stone come to life in magnificent statues, paintings adorn the homes of the wealthy, and architecture bloom in the splendor and glory of church art.
These two determined, passionate men struggled with individual missions inspired by God to forge an artistic miracle in one of the most exciting eras of art history. Michelangelo, while being a notably famed sculptor, did not consider himself a painter. His love was for the marble that he believed captured the figures that soon became released beneath his gifted hands. This is the story of the clash between two strong-willed men desperately trying to complete the task set before them: the immortal artist Michelangelo with his commission from Pope Julius to finish painting the Sistine Chapel, and Pope Julius who defined himself as a conqueror preserving the church, the pontiff and the hope of peace for mankind who raced against death to see the painting of the Sistine Chapel completed.
Much controversy was provoked by Michelangelo's conception of mankind as he defended his paintings by portraying man as God has made him in the glory and innocence of his nakedness, and God as a strong but benevolent Creator. The physical ardor that Michelangelo endured while working on his masterpiece, plus the lack of funds and supplies, caused the task to seem neverending, while religious critics labeled his art obscene and blasphemous.
This is a brilliant biographical story of the power of an age of magnificence, creativity and an outpouring of art that captures the passions of these two men chosen to glorify God and their struggles in completing the task. Any artist would love to add this to their collection and it is family appropriate as well.
