After decimating his foes swiftly and ruthlessly, a victorious Maximus (Russell Crowe) shouts to the silent crowd in the arena, “Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” Honestly, I’m not entertained. That’s not to say this movie is bad, because I do like it, but it does have a couple of flaws which I find disappointing, such as the editing of the fight sequences and the flatness of the characters.
Russell Crowe plays Maximus Decimus Meridius in this historical epic, a general who is sentenced to death by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). He flees with some injuries but is sold into slavery and forced to become a gladiator.
You would expect a film of this nature to place more emphasis on the action sequences, and there are moments that are epic and satisfying. However, while the choice to film these sequences in tight closeups and then edit them together at a fast pace creates tension and energy in the scene, it sacrifices clarity. You know people are getting killed, but you never actually see anything long enough to actually register what happened, just shots of the bloody aftermath. The moment of impact is mostly lost in the blurry movements of the characters and sometimes even the camera. Battles in the arena reminded me of WrestleMania matches, with an announcer trying to rile up the crowd before each fight, and fights were staged like famous battles in the past, which results in history being “rewritten”.
Maximus’s story arc may be the main attraction of the film, but the conflict between Commodus and the Senate is equally, if not more important, while also being entertaining. The political drama between the two sides is the equivalent of gladiator fights outside the arena, constantly emphasizing the greatness of a republican government over a dictatorship while portraying the people as both the victims and deciding factors of each party. Commodus wants to be worshipped and respected by the people, and thus hosts the games to distract them from the real suffering. The Senate, led by Gracchus (Derek Jacobi), wants to overthrow Commodus but is unable to do so without the support of the people, so they need Maximus’s fame and popularity with the public. Hence, the irony surfaces when we realise that the key to a political victory depends not on honesty or the ability to provide for a better future, but on which party manages to charm the people more.
Russell Crowe gives a fantastic performance as the vengeful Maximus who will stop at nothing to get his revenge on Commodus for the murder of his family. His energetic performance and charm in the arena are a highlight of the film, and when coupled with cathartic moments in the battles, it is awe-inspiring. Yet, the brilliant performances in the film are unable to make up for the flatness in characters. Maximus is the embodiment of all that is good – honourable and loyal, while Commodus represents the extreme evil that only thinks for himself and an utter disregard for others. These extremes make these two into caricatures, instead of more realistic characters.
Proximo (Oliver Reed) and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) are two of the more interesting characters in the film. Proximo’s past as a gladiator and his fondness of the thrill in the arena makes him more than just a cruel slaver, and in the end, he turns out to be more honourable than he thought he could be.
Given Ridley Scott’s history with strong female characters such as Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in “Alien”, it should come as no surprise that Lucilla, the only female character in “Gladiator”, is way more complex than her male counterparts. Her ability and potential as a leader are confirmed by the former emperor when he says “If only you had been born a man, what a Caesar you would have made.” Besides just being a comment on how Lucilla is able to command the respect of the people, it also shows sympathy towards a woman with strong leadership skills ultimately being undermined by an androcentric world. Her potential is shadowed by the threats to her family and herself, brought about by her incestuous brother Commodus, and she chooses to accept the suffering in exchange for the safety of her son. Instead of saying that she is weak or easily overpowered, I see it as a testimony of her strength and motherly love for her son.
In essence, despite not liking some aspects of the film, “Gladiator” still manages to tell an engaging story on an epic scale.
“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” This film will echo. But in eternity? Only time will tell.
★★★½ (3.5 stars out of 5)
Comments