Age of Treason

Bryan Brown's Australian accent almost completely ruined this film for me. I could easily see this movie as being worthy of a viewing on Mystery Science Theater 3000 just for that alone. At the very least Brown could've taken speech lessons to hide his accent. At best, someone else should've been cast in the role. By using Brown, accent and all, only seems to suggest the makers of this movie really didn't care.

I'm not a purist. I don't care if they film the Bible and it comes out as "Top Gun", as long as it is a good movie. This is a good movie and doesn't deserve the bum rap it gets. If it were made in the US we'd have had James Garner in the title role instead of Brian Brown, but who cares. This is a clever story that is well filmed and acted and keeps promising more. It delivers via solid performances and great twists in the plot. I'd kill to have this on DVD or VHS. Watch it on TV and see what you think. I think you'll bemoan the fact this wasn't made into a series or a TV series, at least. This should have been one of those cult films only the acting is probably too good.

I'm a huge fan of Lindsey Davis' mystery series set in First Century Rome, and was really disappointed by this filmic conflation of several of her early Marcus Didius Falco novels. The primary flaw, which spoils anything good in the movie (and there IS some good stuff here) is the woeful miscasting of Bryan Brown as Falco. I've loved Brown in several other movies, but he isn't the guy for this role. Most especially distressing is his lower-class Aussie accent, which is completely wrong for Falco -- he could never have won the heart of a Senator's daughter talking like this!

It's really a shame, because the Falco series deserves a treatment like what the BBC provided for "I, Claudius." It's that good.

Entertaining movie but many unintentionally funny moments. Reminiscent of Hercules and Xena tv series. Bryan Brown's accent is distracting, especially in the narration. Hunky kickboxer Matthias Hues is fun to watch as Justus. Suspenseful plot. "Gladiator" is much better.

There are not too many films which sweep across time to snare a bit of History and attempt a serious comedy. Then again, this film " The Age of Treason " may have started out as far fetched comedy but as we view it, should be taken seriously. Whatever, the beginning, the story is quite interesting, cohesive and most of all, entertaining. The star of the film is none other than Bryan Brown playing a 1st Century Private Investigator, named Marcus Falco. OK, so there wasn't such an occupation in the 1st century, but who cares, the movie works. Like a modern private Eye, Falco has a difficult time holding onto his money, that is until one of his clients gives him a enormous Gladitor named Justus, (Matthias Hues) in exchange for a fee. Always looking for work, Falco and his friend are to learn who murdered the brother of his employer. In a day and age where it is not wise to ask questions, especially about the nobility or the powerful, Falco nevertheless seeks out the culprit. His investigation will take him into the secret chambers of the Vestal Virgins, the dark blood pits of the gladiatorial area and even into the Palace of the Emperor Vespasian (Anthony Valentine). Wheather he will ever return to his lower income dwelling alive, is not assured, by any means. Still it is his line of work and for an off the beaten path type of movie, it works indeed and I predict it will become a rare Classic in its own right. ****