The new biblical epic from director Ridley Scott, “Exodus: Gods and Men,” has drummed up a lot of criticism in advance of its release. Most commentators have focused on the issue of race in the casting of the film. But one commentator—who also happens to have been cast in the film—has his own unique feelings about the movie. And when Moses speaks, people tend to listen.
In an interview with ABC’s “Nightline,” Christian Bale described his character, Moses, as a “freedom fighter.” Hey, not so bad, right? Moses is sort of famous for having played a part in freeing his people. But Bale was careful to make sure that we also empathize with the enslaving, murderous, genocidal Egyptians, to whom Moses would have been, according to Bale, a “terrorist.” There’s nothing wrong with trying to see things from both sides. But Bale appears to have concluded that Moses may have been more bad than good.
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