tones and Judah Ben-Hur

[sergebroom]

One thing I like about "Ben-Hur" is how it mixes the tone registers. The main story is grand in scope and in emotions, with Judah being noble, and Messala being villainous enough to spit his last breath at his once-friend. But it also has bits where normal people act normally, like when the orchestra leader cuts off his musicians when General Arrius starts to make a Big Announcement. Watching the movie in a theater last night, I managed to catch more such instances, like when Messala is getting up from his massage to greet the Sheik, and the masseur keeps massaging util his bad-tempered client shrugs him off.