Review 78: Gladiator

Gladiator is a staggering historical epic, one of Ridley Scotts's best films and a true example that the historical epic was not dead.

After defeating the Germanic tribes at Vindobona, ending a long war on the Roman frontier, loyal Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) is betrayed when emperor Marcus Aurelius' (Richard Harris) ambitious son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), murders his father and seizes the throne and kills Maximus' family. Reduced to slavery, Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge the murder of his family and his emperor.

The plot is a beautiful work of art. It tells the story of a man, not just any man, but a brave and true man, a hero. Apart from  it's also a story about good vs evil, revenge, greed, loyalty, redemption, sacrifice and freedom.

 

Ultimately, Gladiator is an open eye look at Roman culture, it's gladiatorial combat as well as the political intrigue beneath, how people lived, what they did for entertainment, how capital punishment was carried out, it's architecture, what kinds of clothes people wore and it's military.

One particular aspect of Rome's culture Gladiator explores in great detail is the gladiatorial combat.

In those days gladiatorial combat was the Romans form of entertainment, crowds of people would come flocking to arenas to watch these horrifically violent games, where slaves would fight other gladiators, condemned criminals and wild animals armed with whatever weapons they could get their hands one. This aspect is depicted with grit and brutality as the film shows the combat in a bad light. Behind the scenes it was not a pretty sight. When recruited the gladiators had no choice, they were forced to do it they would be condemned by either execution by sword or fight to the death as a gladiator When they fighting in the arena it was either kill or be killed and Scott makes this abundantly clear in when staging the arena fights.
From an audience pov this was the highest form of entertainment to see grown men fight to the death. But within the arena it was a whole different story.

Scott is also clearly drawing parallels to todays entertainment as today we still have violent sports such as wrestling and bull fighting and Maximus questions why we would watch such entertainment like in one particularly memorable scene with a very iconic quote.      

Of course there are some creative liberties with history but by doing so it adds interest to the piece. It's a film, not a documentary and I don't think Ridley Scott ever intended it to be.

This, you could say, makes Gladiator two films. One of them is a practical, topical period, costume drama about the politics and life of Ancient Rome which is really fascinating. More to the point, it has everything that reflects society today it has war, politics, executions, food and water as well as what people did for work.
The other is a blistering, exciting, growling action epic, filled with intense battles, swords, tigers, compelling human drama and amazing special effects.

You really get a sense from this film (even if it a bit inaccurate) what Ancient Rome was like or what it might have been like.

Good vs Evil: The whole movie revolves around the battle between two men and two men only Maximus who represents good and Commodus who represents evil.

Revenge: Maximus' loss of his wife and son and him being sold into slavery drives him for revenge against Commodus. It's a very human thing that drives him and it's a revenge you can really get behind and understand.

Greed: Commodus

Loyalty: Another driving force behind Maximus' revenge against Commodus is his loyalty to Marcus Arrilius

Redemption: Maximus feels guilty that he wasn't there to save his wife and child from Commodus, which gives him all the more reason for him to bring him down. His vendetta to put an end to Commodus reign has a sort of biblical edge to it and a way to atone for his mistakes.

Sacrifice:

Freedom: Commodus rules the people of Rome under the shadow of tyranny and fear with an Iron Fist and, even though

The assassination of Marcus Arrilius at the hands of Commodus has a Shakespearean overtones i.e. the assassination of King Duncan of Scotland at the hands of Macbeth.

Ridley Scot's direction is precise, the cinematography is beautiful, the special effects are tremendous, the score by Hans Zimmer and the vocals by Lisa Gerrard are magnificent, the production design is staggering and superbly captures the beauty of Ancient Rome, a grand prosperous authentic  the costumes are majestic, the scenery is breathtaking, the props are well crafted, the make up is rich and wonderfully detailed, the arena battle scenes are intense, exciting, expertly staged and well choreographed and the ending was superb.

The acting is superb. Russell Crowe gives a steady, noble performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius.
Maximus has built up quite a reputation as one of Rome’s finest generals 

The films opening battle expertly establishes him as a man of honour and virtue who's well loved and respected among his men. He's a successful general yet one who desires to go home to his wife and son, further establishing him as someone whom being a family man matters more to him than being a ruler.

 and all of that is taken away from him and  he’s left as a man with nothing to loose.

Joaquin Phoenix Commodus is a cruel, spiteful man who feels he has never received the proper recognition from his father that he deserves.  He's the type of villain you love to hate.
He takes away everything that Maximus holds dear and turns him into an underdog.

 

Connie Nielsen is luminous and lovely playing Lucilla, Maximus' former lover and elder sister of Commodos. 

 

Richard Harris’ Marcus Aurelius’ role is small but it’s pivotal to the events that unfold in the film.
He initially wants Maximus to take over as Emperor of Rome because he recognises he is a father and a husband and will put the interests of the people above his own. his dilemma. His assassination has a kind of Shakespearean overtone to it.

 

Oliver Reed (in tragically his final film role)

 

Djimon Hounsou Much like Maximus, he too is a fellow gladiator who had  

4/5.  

 

The Anonymous Critic.