Gladiator -2000

 Director Ridley Scott triumphantly transports us back to the Roman Empire circa 180 A.D. with a painter’s eye for detail, a proven talent for manufacturing exotic realities (such as the future shock of Blade Runner) and a sweet tooth for utter spectacle. Fictional Roman general Maximus played by Russell Crowe, what's so good about this guy's acting to me is that he's rather unassuming in his roles and as an actor. Maximus is the heart and soul , atlest the driving force of this bloody revenge epic about blood sport, jealousy, patriotism, ambition, betrayal, the hereafter and political corruption. As a sword-and-sandals Mad Max, he is named successor to the Roman throne, is marked for death along with his loved ones and becomes a gladiatorial favorite of the coliseum mob. The cast is strong (notably Nielsen as Commodus's vacillating sister, and the late Oliver Reed, unusually endearing as a gladiator owner, the pacing lively, and the sets, swordplay and Scud catapults impressive. From the moment early in the movie where the Roman messenger arrives back at camp sans head, you know this is a movie that takes its action seriously. The battle that follows is awesome. The fiery arrows and the burning catapult projectiles look as threatening as any modern day weapon. The many arena fights to the death are spectacular and realistic.

     So Maximus is victorious, and he is complimented by the emperor himself, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). It's not long before this Caesar asks his best general what he wants, Maximus replies he wants to return to his wife and son, and their farm, outside of Rome. 

    More intrigue surfaces when the emperor's real son and daughter enter. We first see them ushered to the battle after the death-dealing is done, in a luxurious coach. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus, who believes he will be the next dictator. His sister Lucilla is played by Connie Nielson, this character is supposed to be the smarter of the two, She had also apparently been involved with Maximus before his marriage to another.

   It's clear that GLADIATOR will take the path of a revenge story, and the cause for revenge unfolds quickly. Commodus makes sure his father's wishes are never formally broadcast, and commits a heinous combination of crimes: patricide and regicide! Refusing to pledge loyalty to the heir, Maximus is sent off to be executed. Experienced fighter that he is, he survives, foreshadowing the fighting he must do later, always against enemies of greater numbers and armament.

   As the childish, hateful young emperor, Joaquin Phoenix is despicable, yes, but he also seems to have to put the most effort into his role. Phoenix delivers the least naturalistic, the least transparent, performance among the major players.

   Connie Nielson as Lucilla is fascinating, she is an incredibly beautiful woman and her character is perhaps the most complex in the film. Where her loyalties lie is unclear for much of the story and she also plays a loving and devoted mother. 

  Oliver Reed does a nice turn as the slave trader and gladiator trainer Proximo. Reed died not long after finishing the film. His character is deeply conflicted he doesn't know whether to assist the man he has discovered is a general, or to make all the pieces of gold he can. Reed is perfect for this role, the sinews on his thick neck standing out with age, the cadences of his British accent mixing well with the accent assumed by Crowe.

   Djimon Hounsou is nicely cast as a captured slave, one who offers kindness to the wounded general, or the `Spaniard,' as Maximus is known among the gladiators he trains and fights among.

   Another strong supporting actor is Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus. He looks a little too gentle and wise to be involved with such dark politics, nevertheless, Jacobi's manner gets us quickly aligned with his cause, which is the same cause Maximus is willing to die for.

 The special effects are stunning in GLADIATOR. We view them mainly in the scenes showing ancient Rome, the immense and pillared structure, the impressive statuary, the painstakingly recreated Old World flavor of a living city. Recent speculation about the Coliseum, for instance, has made it into this film, historians believe long poles depended from the top, and from these poles hung sail-like awning, the closest thing to a retractable partial-roof of its time. Wonderful details confront us in this film and it would take more than one viewing to notice everything. The only reservation I have about large scale backgrounds like the ones here is that they sometimes appear unreal, almost like video images in a feature film. But its unbelivebly good in this movie. Other special effects are employed in dream sequences. The initial image starting the film shows a warrior's hand skimming the tops of wheat stalks, and later we see definite imagery of death as Maximus dreams of meeting his son and wife in the Elysian fields. We even notice some early Christian references. Although the gods are mentioned, we hear Maximus praying to "Blessed Mother' and `Father.' And he meditates with small statues of his wife and child. It's easy to see how Christianity was developing at the time this story takes place, Scott is to be commended for showing the spirituality of some of his main characters.

 This movie will be forever remembered as the one that made Russell Crowe a star. To sum this one movie up...............A Splendid Kickass Roman Epic!