From Shane Conto

Are you ready to be entertained?! With the release of Gladiator II this weekend, many have turned back to the original film which was released 24 years ago. Gladiator was quite the phenomenon when it hit the silver screen. This was not only a big box office success but it also won Best Picture at the Oscars. Director Ridley Scott had turned back time and captured the “sword & sandals” genre better than anyone had in decades. What used to be a big figure of filmmaking in the 50s and 60s, these types of films faded from view. But all it took was one great film to revitalize the genre. Films like Troy and 300 probably would not have existed without Gladiator kicking that door back open. 

But what makes Scott’s epic so entertaining to begin with? When you make a film about gladiators…there better be some impressive action. Scott and company do not disappoint at all. You know from the opening sequence between Maximus’ legions and the Germanic tribes that there is going to be some wild action along the way. The scale is felt and the brutality is visceral. That brutality is necessary. War is brutal and so is life within the Colosseum. The multiple gladiatorial encounters are exciting and unique in each of their own ways. The battle with Tigris and his actual tigers is just an iconic fight in cinema. The filmmaking is incredible and visceral (which Scott has been doing for years) and the sound design is quite impactful. When those swords clash…you feel it. 

What is a tale as old as time? Revenge! The story of an individual seeking vengeance for the wrongs slighted against them is one of the truest and most time tested tales in film. Vengeance for Maximus Decimus Meridius has plenty of weight and justification. He is indeed the husband to a murdered wife. He is the father to a murdered son. He is loyal to the true Emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius…murdered by his own power hungry and cowardly son, Commodus. We feel Maximus’ pain as he weeps (some serious ugly crying) over the brutalized bodies of his family. The drive and determination that Maximus shows over the course of the epic film is just awe-inspiring. You feel his pain and want to journey with him through Hell so he can reach Elysium with his lost loved ones. Scott delivers one of the most satisfying revenge stories in recent cinematic history. 

Who truly brings this film to life? A stellar cast from top to bottom. Maximus could be a simple soldier without much depth. That is why you cast one of the most impressive actors of this generation in Russell Crowe. Every stare, movement, and line delivery is executed with precision. The added depth of performance that Crowe mustered built that connection to Maximus. For a vengeful force, you need the right counter force. Joaquin Phoenix is mesmerizing as the slimy and sinister Commodus. His big and bold performance is so memorable for all types of reasons. Acting legend Oliver Reed brings so much personality to a character like Proximo. He eats every line like it is nobody’s business. He brings gravity and weight to so many scenes. Richard Harris does the same as Marcus Aurelius (who is only in the film for a short while). Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, David Hemmings, and Tommy Flanagan all leave a distinct impact in their various roles in Maximus’ and Rome’s story. 

Why are we getting a sequel to Gladiator all these years later? This film still makes a cultural impact. There are so many iconic lines. “Are you not entertained” is such an impactful and widely quoted line in pop culture. Maximus’ speech as he reveals his identity is powerful and has left a cultural impact as well. The combination of Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerard crafted one of the most iconic scores and movie music in the 21st century so far. The action… the drama… the thrills… the emotion… the technical prowess. They all come together to deliver a simply epic film that must be experienced at least once. 

Gladiator is streaming on Paramount+.

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