Ambitious but unfocused and frustrating

A film that closely misses its mark is more frustrating than a straight up bad film. This movie has great actors, great costumes, an interesting soundtrack and some really great shots. In the hands of a better director it probably could've been a masterpiece.

It clocks in at almost 2 hours and barely anything of real significance happens. The editor could have easily shaved off 20 minutes and we wouldn't have missed anything. The film is broken up into 5 parts with 3 of the chapters being about tantrums, but two of those tantrums could barely count as crying fits. He tossed some rocks and doesn't want to eat so that makes him a future fascist dictator? Come on.

This movie lacked focus. It would have worked much better if it interwove significant historical events with poignant moments of the child being truly devilish and manipulative. That would have actually built tension while nesting it in historical context, building up to a climactic reveal of his future path to power.