Rome Review: Ancient Rome, Warts and All
9/10 — Rome (2005)
Pros
- Lived-in production design
- Excellent cast
- Gripping politics
Cons
- Rushed final stretch
- Ended early
Rome follows two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, as they become entangled with figures like Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian during the collapse of the Roman Republic. It ran for two seasons.
What works
The production design is superb, creating a lived-in, dirty Rome, and the performances, particularly Ciarán Hinds as Caesar and Polly Walker as Atia, are excellent. The story balances politics with personal drama.
Where it falters
It was cancelled after two seasons, so the story is rushed in its last stretch, and the production’s cost shows in some compressed events.
Verdict
A rich, adult historical drama that ended too soon.
