Gladiator
(2000) is a Ridley Scott film with a star-studded cast. The Roman general
Maximus Decimus Meridius is betrayed when Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor
Marcus Aurelius, murders his father and seizes the throne. Barely escaping
death, and witness to the destruction of his property and the murder of his
wife and child, Maximus is taken into slavery to become a gladiator. He rises through
the ranks to finally achieve the goal gladiators aspire to: fighting in the Colosseum
in Rome. But Maximus has other plans. Going to Rome to fight will bring him into
the orbit of the Emperor Commodus, a corrupt and spendthrift ruler who placates
the restless Roman populace with bread and circuses. Then he can take his
revenge. The plot unfolds as Maximus rallies various senators, allies, his men,
and even the sister of the Emperor, Lucilla, whom he once loved in his youth,
to overthrow and kill Commodus.
With
a cast that boasts Russell Crowe as Maximus, Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius,
Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus and Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, with acting
stalwarts like Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, David Hemmings, David Shrapnel, David
Schofield et al, can one go wrong? No, as is evidenced by this truly
magnificent film. Albeit relatively unknown at the time, Crowe sealed his
future career with a performance that was nothing short of remarkable. The
camera loves him, and he knows how to act with his mind. The point of film
acting is to remember that less truly is more. His performance is memorable.
But no one can act alone in a film such as this one, and the stellar supporting
cast was superb.
The photography can only be described as mesmerizing. The opening battle scenes in the forests of Germania are mind-blowing and set the tone for the drama and grandeur to follow. The luxury, opulence, beauty, and decay of the Roman Empire are on full display. The excesses of wealth, entertainment, and corruption are brilliantly portrayed. The Colosseum, (a replica section built in Malta) is truly magnificent and hopefully will get viewers thinking about the sheer brilliance and ingenuity of the architects of the original. It is the largest amphitheater ever built and is the largest still standing. The gladiator/fight scenes are just nail-bitingly fantastic. The music by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard is equally magnificent; grand in places and haunting in others, it evokes instant recognition in listeners. The film had mixed reviews, but the incredible box office response indicates more people liked it than those who did not.
It won five awards at the 73rd
Academy Awards and was nominated for seven more.
Historical
accuracy is spotty although the producers hired historians to advise, one of
which resigned. In my humble opinion, audiences know there is artistic license,
and this is a story. A story, I must add, that is gripping, compelling, and
very well told. Perhaps more viewers will, like me, be curious enough to do
some research to find out what happened to the real Marcus Aurelius, Commodus,
and Lucilla. Gladiator II has been released and boasts a similar stellar cast
with new characters played by Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, and with Connie
Nielsen and Derek Jacobi returning.
Gladiator (2000) is incredible and even after 24 years, its splendour has not dimmed. I watched it for the umpteenth time and still saw new things. Don’t miss it. This is real entertainment and has great acting.
