No pun intended - and a movie that is walking on a thin fine line. Nero is someone that most if not all have heard of. But Seneca ... I doubt it is only me, I am quite sure that not many know of him or a lot about him. On the other hand, his name seems connected with Nero, so maybe more have at least some peripheral knowledge.
But this is not out to tell the story of him in a traditional way. No we get characters from back then - but with a newer, fresh take on them. And while the language is or sounds sometimes like it is from the olden days (back then), it also goes back and forth and gives us a lot of newer sentiment. And swear words .. something not everyone may agree with or find good to hear.
John Malkovich really relishes in his role - and seeing Julian Sands in this reminded me, that he went missing a few months ago. I was hoping he was found (alive), but as of today no sign of him yet. Which makes it unlikely that he is still alive. Something that his character and the other ones surely aren't - this plays almost 2 centuries ago - so there is that.
Apart from the swear words though, some might also have issues with some graphic depiction of violence and gore/blood. While that doesn't happen a lot or often - the spikes we get can be hard to stomach. One individual wasn't prepared for that and left the cinema. I imagine that happend in other screenings too.
Again not an easy watch for many reasons, but if you like theatre and performances in general ... you will have a hoot .. well you know what I mean. Just be prepared that the movie seems to go on forever ... or "torturing" the viewer by having "multiple" endings ... which is fitting to the character of the ever so clever title character/person ...
