Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) is one of the greatest warriors in the history of the Roman Empire. Over the years he has been tasked with bringing to fruition emperor Marcus Aurelius' (Richard Harris) vision of the empire, and, without fault, as a general in the Roman Army, he has been successful. However, after Aurelius makes the announcement that Meridius is to be his successor, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), Aurelius’ son, ensures that things don’t go as planned. Maximus’ family is murdered, and he is sold into slavery, forced to fight as a Gladiator. This is Maximus’ story of redemption and revenge.
Writers David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson clearly have a knack for writing. Their story, from beginning to end, is cohesive and without fault. The dialogue is impressive and provides viewers with a genuine understanding of each and every character. Some of the lines, however, are a bit cheesy (and not as well written as others), and don’t fit the rest of the script. Those moments seem overlooked and weak in comparison to the majority of the dialogue, and the scenes in which these lines are spoken ultimately end up being watered down and slightly unsuccessful. It’s these moments, and these moments alone that hold Gladiator back from being perfect. As viewers become more and more attached to each character, particularly Maximus, they rely heavily on dialogue to help them progress. However, the times in which the words feel juvenile make it difficult to appreciate this progression, and sees the characters take a hypothetical step backward.
The idea of revenge is always one that gets viewers’ blood flowing and sparks an interest in them. While Gladiator focuses almost entirely on revenge, the story wouldn’t be possible and would fail to entertain if it weren’t for the juxtaposition of Commodus and Maximus. These characters, while based loosely on actual people who lived during the Roman Empire, are a testament to what the writers of Gladiator are capable of. On one hand there is Maximus who, to a fault, remains humble and loyal and on the other, Commodus, who is quite the opposite. The two clash throughout the film, but on paper they grapple with one another as well. The perfect foils play out as such and their parallel, but opposite stories entertain throughout the course of the film.
The sets are so beautiful and elaborate that on many occasions they feel fantastical, like they have come not from reality but the imagination. The beauty of these sets transcend all of Gladiator and are able to vividly express how important and profound the story of Maximus truly is. Every aspect of the film comes together to convey significance, however, the gargantuan and astounding nature of the locations in which Gladiator filmed signifies this sentiment better than the rest.
Director Ridley Scott did his homework; and for the parts in which he is not an expert, he delegated to experienced and capable individuals. His ability to delegate and find the right people for each position allowed Gladiator to succeed in nearly every way. The sets, character development, action sequences, choreography, and so on and so forth were so well planned and executed. Outside of the minor faux pas regarding the dialogue, not a moment passes that doesn’t delight audiences. After watching Gladiator, one can only ask a single question: “are you not entertained?”
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Written by David Franzoni, John Logan, & William Nicholson.
Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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