Gladiator (2000) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Gladiator (2000) |
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Screenplay Writer | David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson |
| Based on Novel by | — (Original story by David Franzoni) |
| Lead Actors | Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen |
| Cast | Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, Tomas Arana |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Drama |
| Release Date | May 5, 2000 (United States) |
| Duration | 2h 35m (155 minutes) |
| Budget | ~$103 million |
| Language | English |
| Country | United States, United Kingdom |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | ~$460.5 million |
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Summary
The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire.
Review
Yes, I copy that summary from the movie’s actual trailer. But doesn’t that pretty much say it all?
At first glance, you notice its incredible action scenes, a romantic side plot and the use of historical characters, which alone would make it worth watching. But the amazing thing is that Gladiator is much better. It is a captivating movie that fully deserved its 2000 Best Picture Award.
Crowe, in the first of about five performances that have solidified his place among the best actors today, is brilliant as Maximus, the Roman army general hand-picked by the dying Marcus Aurelius to succeed him as head of the empire. When Marcus’ petulant son, Commodus (Phoenix) hears that he has been bypassed for succession, he secretly kills his father, ascends to the throne and orders the execution of Maximus and his family. Maximus escapes death (his family is not so lucky), but is wounded and captured, then sold into slavery and forced to fight for his own survival.
The battle scenes are great, but just as impressive are the characters themselves and the interplay between them. Crowe is charismatic as the fallen general turned hero who rises to the Colosseum to confront his family’s and the true emperor’s killer. Phoenix is detestable as the weak, incestuous and tortured Commodus. His sister Lucilla (Nielsen) is strong as well, as her loyalties to Rome and suspicious of her own brother create inner turmoil. I could go on forever. It’s so dynamic and good that nothing I write can adequately do it justice. Just go buy it.
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