"Historia est magistra vitae" or, in other words, when faced with serious present-day problems, people tend to look for solutions in the past. In doing so, they like to imagine the past as nothing more than slightly distorted version of the present (and that probably explains why current unpleasantness in Iraq is so often compared with WW2 and Vietnam War). Sometimes, this projecting of present into the distant past could be quite entertaining. One of the people to recognise this was Lindsey Davis, author of novels that inspired Age of Treason, 1993 period thriller directed by Kevin Connor.
Plot of this film begins in 69 A.D. Following the death of Emperor Nero, Roman Empire has gone through a year marked by coups and civil war. It all ended with general Vespasian (played by Anthony Valentine) finally emerging victorious and becoming new emperor. New regime brings political stability and economic prosperity and citizens of Rome are again engaging in their favourite activities - plebeian masses are obsessed with extreme sports while rich decadent aristocrats are embracing bizarre religious cults, including Christianity. Somewhere in the middle are those who must work hard to make a living. One of them is Marcus Didius Falco (played by Brian Brown), tough and cynical private informer. One of his clients is Helena (played by Amanda Pays), wife of Pertinax (played by Art Malik), powerful commander of Praetorian Guard. Falco is hired to find Helena's missing brother and his investigation is helped by Justus (played by Matthias Hues), slave gladiator given as debt payment by one of Falco's clients. Two of them find Helena's brother dead, but this discovery also reveals conspiracy that threatens Emperor's life.
As militarily powerful, economically prosperous, scientifically enlightened multi-ethnic, multi racial and multi-religious global state troubled by moral and spiritual decadence, 1st Century A.D. Roman Empire in many ways resembles today's Western world. At least this was the perception that allowed authors to Age of Treason to transplant hard-boiled detective story in Ancient Rome without making it ridiculously anachronistic or insulting to historical purists. When script tries to make comparisons between Roman and modern world, results are delightfully funny. Matthias Hues, actor subscribed to the roles of villains in action films, obviously enjoyed opportunity to play hero's sidekick for a change. Brian Brown, despite his heavy Australian accent, is also good in his role.
Direction in this film, however, leaves much to be desired. Some of the acting is also bad, and Age of Treason easily gives away its low budget. Some subplots and characters in the film are also left unexplored, which indicates that Age of Treason could have been failed pilot episode of TV show. Despite those flaws, this film represents entertaining history lesson which could be recommended even those viewers who aren't Hercules or Xena fans.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 16th 2004)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/168792-age-of-treason Critic: AA
