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Gladiator (1-May-2000)
Director: Ridley Scott Writers: David Franzoni; John Logan; William Nicholson Music by: Hans Zimmer; Lisa Gerrard Producers: Douglas Wick; David Franzoni; Branko Lustig Keywords: Action/Adventure, Gladiators, Ancient Rome Ridley Scott-directed epic follows a betrayed Roman general's attempts to seek revenge as a gladiator.
ABSTRACT
180 AD, Rome: Maximus Decimus Meridius, a celebrated general coming off of an important victory against Germanic tribes at Vindobona, is asked by ailing incumbent Emperor Marcus Aurelius to bypass biological son Commodus and serve as Emperor upon his death with a view to turning Rome back into a republic. Commodus does not take kindly to Marcus's plans, however, killing his father and Maximus's family, claiming the throne for himself, and reducing the defeated general -- seemingly resigned to the life of a slave -- to an agent of disruption, bound to claim his revenge against the empire that had once made him as a gladiator.
CAST | Russell Crowe | ... Maximus | | Joaquin Phoenix | ... Commodus | | Connie Nielsen | ... Lucilla | | Oliver Reed | ... Proximo | | Derek Jacobi | ... Gracchus | | Djimon Hounsou | ... Juba | | | and | | Richard Harris | ... Marcus Aurelius | | | David Hemmings | ... Cassius | | David Schofield | ... Falco | | John Shrapnel | ... Gaius | | Tomas Arana | ... Quintus | | Ralf Moeller | ... Hagen | | Spencer Treat Clark | ... Lucius | | | Tommy Flanagan | ... Cicero | | Sven-Ole Thorsen | ... Tiger | | Omid Djalili | ... Slave Trader | | Nicholas McGaughey | ... Praetorian Officer | | Chris Kell | ... Scribe | | Tony Curran | ... Assassin #1 | | Mark Lewis | ... Assassin #2 | | John Quinn | ... Valerius | | Alun Raglan | ... Praetorian Guard #1 | | David Bailie | ... Engineer | | Chick Allen | ... German Leader | | Dave Nicholls | ... Giant Man | | Al Hunter Ashton | ... Rome Trainer #1 | | Billy Dowd | ... Narrator | | Ray Calleja | ... Lucius' Attendant | | Giannina Facio | ... Maximus' Wife | | | and | | Giorgio Cantarini | ... Maximus' Son |
REVIEWS Review by Walter Frith (posted on 7-Jun-2007) Ridley Scott is one
of those directors that makes good quality films but yet has no stamp
of his own. Watching 'Alien', 'Blade Runner', 'Black Rain', 'Thelma and
Louise' and 'G.I. Jane' would give you no hint that it's the same guy.
Even though most directors have that look or feel that ignite their
names in the minds of audiences through camera angles or injections of
sub plot, I have never felt that way about Scott but I do admire his
films greatly. 'Gladiator' is a broad, sweeping epic film that pays
tribute to Shakespeare in its tone, 'Ben-Hur' in its combat scenes and
'Spartacus' in its heroics. What makes the film work is that these
influences are not obvious. The film is skillfully presented in such a
way as to give the viewer a fresh perspective of the Hollywood epic
without ripping off those that came before it. One thing that has to be
mentioned right off the bat is the performance of Russell Crowe. This
guy is one of the next generation, an actor of downright diversity and
intensity who thrives at not being stereotyped. >From an unorthodox
cop in early 1950's Los Angeles in 1997's 'L.A. Confidential' to a
whistle blowing, conscience stricken tobacco executive in 'The Insider'
to a vengeful Roman army soldier, Crowe, along with the likes of Kevin
Spacey, Edward Norton and Tom Hanks, will takes over for Pacino,
Hackman, Hoffman, De Niro and Nicholson when they retire from films. In
'Gladiator' Crowe plays General Maximus, a loyal and seemingly
unstoppable combat soldier in the Roman empire's army some 2000 years
ago who builds a family like relationship with the Caesar of the times
named Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). The bond between these two men
is similar to the bond between a father and son but evil would soon
lurk its ugly head between the passage of this great bond. After
winning a major battle, Marcus Aurelius secretly tells Maximus that he
will name him as successor to the throne of Rome and this does not go
over with Marcus Aurelius' son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Before news
of the succession can get out, Commodus murders his father and tries to
kill General Maximus and does kill Maximus' entire family. Maximus
thrives on his fugitive situation and has one goal: survival.....so he
can have his vengeance later. Connie Nielsen plays Commodus' sister who
was once Maximus' flame and is sort of caught in a catch-22 in all of
the treachery that plays out and Derek Jacobi is casted well as a Roman
senator. In the slave world Maximus is purchased by Proximo (Oliver
Reed) and this man makes his living training gladiators and finds a hot
property with Maximus who is victorious at every turn and even defeats
well established legends in the minds of the spectators and quickly
becomes a new hero to them. There are greats scenes of sword play,
brutal hand to hand combat and confrontations with such fierce
creatures as tigers. The cinematography by John Mathieson is breath
taking and his work is an early contender for an Oscar. One thing I
didn't like about this film is the fact that Ridley Scott, in filming
his action sequences, plays with too many close up shots where the
action scurries around in a whirlwind of dust, smoke and fast moves so
much so that we cannot focus entirely on the action at hand and the
editing process throughout all of this is somewhat rushed and comes off
as aloof at several points. One thing that makes 'Gladiator' work well
on many levels is the advent of computer technology. There are many
crowd scenes and architectural landscapes that were obviously generated
by computers because if the cost of so many extras were put forward
along with the cost of building and erecting many Roman like city
structures for the given era, the film would have cost about the same
as it did to make 'Titanic'.....a cool 200 million dollars. Compared
with that film, 'Gladiator' came in at a much lower 103 million dollars
because things were not built to scale the way they were in 'Titanic'
where James Cameron had a relic of the famous boat built 90% to scale.
I remember someone from the cast of 'Ben-Hur' saying that if a film
like 'Ben-Hur' were made in this day and age it would probably cost 200
or even 300 million dollars to produce. 'Gladiator' has now been made
in a time where computer effects look authentic and not cheesy and
combined with many other scenes, I defy anyone to tell the difference
between the fake stuff and the reality in every single detail of the
film's labour. Through the eyes of death, the struggle between good and
evil and the resolution of the film's climax, 'Gladiator' pays tribute
to the most high end of Shakespearean art and will leave the audience
finding a whole new perspective on a genre of film some thought might
be buried indefinitely. Thank goodness it's not. Visit FILM FOLLOW-UP
by Walter Frith
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