Twenty - four years ago , the macrocosm see Russell Crowe ’s Maximus Decimus Meridius become a paladin in the arena inGladiator . After being sell into bondage , Maximus becomes a prizefighter , mount the ranks in the arena and put his sights on revenge the deaths of his family . direct by Ridley Scott , Gladiatorwas the secondly - highest - grossing pic of 2000 and come through five Academy Award , including Best Picture .
This November , Scott will revisit these legendary warrior in Ancient Rome forGladiator II . The subsequence follows Lucius Verus ( Paul Mescal ) , the son of Connie Nielsen ’s Lucilla . After the Roman army invades his family , Lucius is sold into slaveholding and train to fight as a prizefighter . The first trailer forGladiator IIlooks prominent . Only fourth dimension will tell ifGladiator IIlives up to the ballyhoo . What is n’t up for debate is the bequest ofGladiator , an action - throng drama that still bind up to this day .
Action scenes remain exhilarating
Scott found that Gladiator will be an larger-than-life action pic from the curtain raising struggle , with Crowe leading the way . It ’s an appetizer for the gladiatorial combat to postdate . The first gladiator fight boast Maximus , Juba ( Djimon Hounsou ) , and the rest of Proximo ’s slaves chained to a partner as they take on several masked fighters . During this fight , the violence is on full display , with unrelenting violence and gruesome kill . These are fights to the demise and therefore must be brutal .
Once Maximus enters the Colosseum , the action intensifies , set about with the magnificent reenactment of the Battle of Zama . Despite being outmatched , Maximus lead the gladiator to victory . While his showdown against Commodus put the cherry on top of a great movie , Maximus ’ fight against Tigris of Gaul ( Sven - Ole Thorsen ) is the superior one - on - one fight . Maximus even avoids being eaten by a Panthera tigris in this face-off . Maximus , do not worry . We are entertain .
Revenge is a dish that audiences still eat up
Part ofGladiator’sappeal is its easy - to - understand revenge story . Simplicity really can be idol , especially for a plot . Gladiator’splot in three conviction : “ The superior general who became a slave . The slave who became a prizefighter . The gladiator who defied an emperor . ” That ’s as straightforward as it gets . retaliation always plays .
Scott knows the action in the arena is the selling point . The side plot involve Maximus ’ pursuit to escape incarceration , reunify with his soldiers , and return magnate to the Roman senate is entertaining . In the grand outline of things , however , it ’s not why audiences return toGladiator . To quoteTom SizemorefromHeat,“The action is the succus . ” Maximus ’ pursuit for revenge on the sphere sands is the draw .
Russell Crowe at the peak of his powers
From 1997 to 2003 , Crowe had one of the all - time runs for any doer . After starring in some Australian film in the other 1990s , Crowe make external credit , especially with American audiences , in 1997’sL.A. Confidential . Crowe would become an Academy raw material with Oscar nominations in three sequential years for 1999’sThe Insider , 2000’sGladiator , and 2001’sA Beautiful Mind .
contribute 2003’sMaster and Commander : The Far Side of the Worldto the mix , and that ’s a hall - of - fame CV . All that said , Gladiatoris the performance that won him an Oscar and etch his name into history . Crowe ’s intensity , physicality , and stolidness are perfect traits for the honourable Maximus Decimus Meridius .
The ensemble cast brings their A-games
Crowe is the only actor in the cast to walk away with the Oscar . However , there is a strong argument forJoaquin Phoenixas the winner ofGladiator . Compared to Crowe , Phoenix has a operose undertaking of reset the consultation despise him from the mo he walk on screen . Commodus is a spoiled brat and narcissist who never get what he want .
Besides Phoenix , Gladiator’sother noteworthy performances include Connie Nielsen as Lucilla , Commodus ’ tortured baby who must walk on eggshells around her incestuous brother to protect her son ; Djimon Hounsou as Juba , Maximus ’ fellow gladiator and friend who brings a steady presence to the moving-picture show ; and Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius , the emperor moth torn between doing what ’s good for his people and being the father his Word needs .
The movie’s Best Picture win has aged well
How a film ages is an important part of its legacy . DidGladiator’swin forBest Pictureage graciously or ill ? The debate for the good motion-picture show of 2000 will never terminate , and to be dependable , Gladiatorisn’t it . Almost Famousgets my right to vote . However , Gladiator‘s win in Best Picture overChocolat , Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon , Erin Brockovich , andTrafficwas the right-hand decision .
Certain filmmaking aspects in those Oscar - put forward films are superscript toGladiator , including the hand - to - manus scrap sequences inCrouching Tigerand the camerawork inTraffic . However , Gladiatoris the best overall movie in the category when you combine performances , guidance , story , and output excogitation . The visuals are brilliant , and the action mechanism is spellbinding .
This is n’t aCrashorGreen Booksituation . Gladiatordeserved its win and represents one of the last original spectacles to take home the movie community ’s most prestigious prize .
you’re able to streamGladiatorfor free onPluto TV .
