Gladiator Movie Review

"What we do in life echoes in eternity."

-Maximus 

From director Ridley Scott comes a masterpiece that launched film into the new millennium. A household film title starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, I'm really ashamed to say I finally watched Gladiator fourteen years after it's release in 2000. Nonetheless, whether I had seen it a decade and a half ago or just last week, I'm sure my opinion on the film would have been the same. Considered a classic by many I now understand why this is the case. Despite being almost a three hour film, Crowe and Phoenix keep you captivated with their performances and the epic tale that they are telling.

Crowe plays a very successful Roman general named Maximus who in light of his victories, faces a very turbulent road ahead. He fights for the emperor Marcus Aurelius played by Richard Harris, who seems to be somewhat of a father figure for him. But the emperor's actual son Commodus played by Phoenix has always envied Maximus and his relationship with his father. After the emperors untimely death and some events that angered Commodus very much, he orders Maximus and his family back home to be slaughtered. Maximus escapes captivity but is too late to save his wife and son. Although they are not too graphic with their deaths, it's what we don't see that is horrifying and Crowes performance is so moving and memorable. Captured once again, Maximus is sold into captivity and is forced to fight in gladiator games.

This wasn't the first movie that delves into the killing games of the ancient Romans nor will it be the last, but what makes this movie so great is how well the story is told. We get an equal amount of insight into both the protagonist and the antagonist to see where their motivations and intentions truly originate from. There are such intimate scenes with both these actors that they becomes a window into their character and it's brilliant. I can't leave out the performance of Connie Nielsen though. She plays Lucilla, Commodus' sister and Maximus' ex-lover who plays a vital role throughout the film. There was even a Game of Thrones-esque situation between siblings that could have gotten quite strange. Another thing that I loved about the film was the brutality. The scenes where Maximus is facing off against numerous opponents, just destroying them, are so awesome and intense. I will say that there were some scenes that bored me and I didn't find them very necessary, but for the most part I was hooked in.

Gladiator is a classic revenge film set in the days of the Roman Empire. With a stunning cast and great direction, this film was able to take such basic elements and elevate them to greatness. This is really a movie that every film fan should watch at one point. Filled with love, action, drama, tragedy, and even comedy at the right points, there is something in this film that everyone can enjoy. Also I can't forget to mention the very solid supporting cast members I can finally get my friends to stop pestering me about watching this film and no longer get dirty looks from when I say that I hadn't seen the film. Truly a remarkable film and story, I give Gladiator a 9.5 out of 10. If you can spare the three hours, I promise you you won't regret it!!