Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Neilsen,
Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, and Richard Harris
Maximus, Commodus, Lucilla, Proximo, Gracchus,
Juba, Marcus Aurelius
There are ten million cute, Rex Reed-like phrases
that could describe Ridley Scott's new film, GLADIATOR. 'BEN
HUR Meets Beefcake.' 'I'm Glad for GLADIATOR.' 'Sex Symbols and
the Roman Empire.' The reason they're so easy is because the film,
equal parts grand soap opera and action hero flick, lends itself
to such grandiose and silly pronouncements. Skewering history
for the good parts and throwing out the facts, GLADIATOR
is the thinking man's summer movie -- a bubbly tale of heroism
and virtue, with enough violence to shame the most ardent Mel
Gibson fan.
The good news: GLADIATOR will almost undoubtedly
make Russell Crowe a star. That's a very good thing indeed, because
he's proven to be one of Hollywood's most interesting and exciting
performers of late (THE INSIDER, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, THE QUICK
AND THE DEAD). As the title character Maximus, he is dead-on perfect:
charming, stoic, brave, sexy, and just emotionally damaged enough
to be endearing. Check the eventual box office numbers when GLADIATOR
finishes its run...it will be the first action film in memory
to post serious, quantifiable numbers of women viewers.
The other good news: Ridley Scott has brought back
the glory of ancient Rome to the silver screen. From the Empire's
wars in Germania and the territories of the Middle East to the
spectacle of the Roman Colisseum, GLADIATOR evokes memories
not only of SPARTACUS and the aforementioned BEN HUR, but of the
epics of David Lean. It is a sweeping story, told on a scale rarely
seen at the megaplex these days. Using exotic location shooting
and the latest in film technology, GLADIATOR succeeds in
being larger than life, filling the imagination.
Of course, the film doesn't give all its cookies away
at the beginning. When we first meet Maximus, he is just a Roman
general at the end of the war, a man who dreams of nothing more
than going home to his wife and son. But the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius
(Richard Harris), has other plans -- he wants Maximus to take
his place when he dies.
This doesn't sit well with the Emperor's son, Commodus
(Joaquin Phoenix). Seizing power, Commodus orders Maximus' execution.
Maximus escapes, but not before Commodus murders his family. Maximus
is forced into slavery and trained as a gladiator. Known as "The
Spaniard", his fame grows steadily, resulting in his first
appearance in Rome before the new Emperor...Commodus. His plan
for revenge is now underway.
GLADIATOR could have easily descended into B-movie
shenanigans, were it not for the conviction of Crowe. He plays
the even-keeled Maximus with such fervor, it is difficult to take
your eyes off of him...even when someone else is speaking. Although
the rest of the cast -- including Harris, Phoenix, Connie Neilsen,
and the late Oliver Reed as Maximus' trainer -- are very good,
it is Crowe who hoists this film on his shoulders and singlehandedly
carries it across the finish line.
Ridley Scott brings the same visual artistry to GLADIATOR
that he brought to BLADE RUNNER and THELMA AND LOUISE, a sharp,
distinctive vision of the Roman world in the second century. Bursting
with color and sun-dappled landscapes, the cinematography and
art direction are impeccable.
While Academy Awards are probably out of GLADIATOR's
reach, it is an excellent kickoff to the summer season. Much like
THE MATRIX last year, it is an unexpected pleasure. Find the biggest
screen in your area and sit up close...the tigers, and the valor,
are best seen when big.
