The film does a fair job showing the effect of madness on Lear, but a more gradual descent would've been better. The film's best work is done in showing that the madness takes hold as his role as a father is peeled away, and shows in him this lack of a connective identity, which Shakespeare seemed to suggest could lead to madness in any person.
The film also does well in showing Westmore as a mirror of Lear, so it's worth watching---once.
The post-Alamo setting seems silly to me, as it reminds me too much of TNT's "Ebenezer", their poor 1997 old-west adaptation of "A Christmas Carol." I feel the film would've been better in a modern setting, with Lear as business executive, let's say.
The source is classic, and the acting is good, but it's misplacement can't be overcome enough to call it an excellent film.
The film also does well in showing Westmore as a mirror of Lear, so it's worth watching---once.
The post-Alamo setting seems silly to me, as it reminds me too much of TNT's "Ebenezer", their poor 1997 old-west adaptation of "A Christmas Carol." I feel the film would've been better in a modern setting, with Lear as business executive, let's say.
The source is classic, and the acting is good, but it's misplacement can't be overcome enough to call it an excellent film.