I don't think anyone ever begrudged David Lean lots of time to tell a story, but unlike his earlier epics, "Dr. Zhivago" is a movie placed at cross purposes - trying to depict a story of changes in loyalties in personal relationships...
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I don't think anyone ever begrudged David Lean lots of time to tell a story, but unlike his earlier epics, "Dr. Zhivago" is a movie placed at cross purposes - trying to depict a story of changes in loyalties in personal relationships with a backdrop of monstrous shifts in political and social idealogies. Neither get enough despite the film's length. Much of the detail behind the revolution from the novel is left in the movie, but superficially, and Zhivago and Lara themselves are caught in a hopeless ambivalence that makes me care less about their eventual affair. The characters are more down-trodden than passionate. Much of the first hour could be dispensed with, especially as Lara's husband never is fleshed out. Rod Steiger is excellent, however.

If this is to be a "port in the storm" kind of story, Lean may have been better off telling the story from one point of view alone, as it is, despite the beautiful sweeping vistas and stirring musical score - "Dr. Zhivago" feels empty of the emotion necessary for a love story. There is more a sense of Zhivago's love of Lara, Russia, and poetry in the narration of his half brother than from the whispered dialog so common to this movie.

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