Gladiator

For this month, I thought I would review all of the movies I have seen that have starred Russell Crowe, seeing how I haven’t really talked about him since “Man of Steel.” To start off, I will review Ridley Scott’s 2000 movie, “Gladiator.”

For people who worry that politics and entertainment look very much alike, this epic film says that things were actually similar only way bloodier, in the early days of the first millennium A.D.

Bill O’Driscoll said in his review, “While the film masks its more reactionary sentiments with the rhetoric of democracy, it's entertaining enough doubletalk.” Marcus Aurelius, an emperor who is close to stepping down as Roman Emperor, wants his successor to not be his terrible son, Commodus, but his greatest general Maximus. “Help me save Rome from politicians,” Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) pleads noble Maximus (Russell Crowe) – because, as everyone knows, soldiers are your best people in democracy.

To seal the throne, Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, kills his father. (Note: Joaquin Phoenix got really into the role during that scene, he actually fainted.) Maximus escapes execution, sadly his wife (Giannina Facio) and son (Giorgio Cantarini) don’t. He gets sold into slavery and becomes the empire’s greatest gladiator: in the capital city his popularity with the audiences in the coliseum is that despite someone else owning him, his influence equals that of incompetent Commodus. No worries, a takedown is inevitable.

O’Driscoll said, “Scott consciously seeks to resurrect the sword-and-sandal extravaganzas of two generations ago, and in the frequent combat set pieces he shows flair. Gladiator is a massive production, from the catapults, horses, swords and flaming arrows of the opening battle to the mud-brick amphitheatre where Maximus proves his mettle and the grander frays at the coliseum, with armed charioteers and chained tigers. (Most of the coliseum, by the way, is computer-generated, and most of the spectators digitoids. The kitties are real.) The hand-to-hand set-tos are bloody and bone-jarring.”

However, like a soldier strangely being sworn on the throne, Scott is less successful when weapons aren’t there. The palace plots aren’t terribly plotting. Dramatically, the biggest problem is that from the start, Commodus never looks a worthy villain. Phoenix humanizes him to a certain point, but as written Commodus has no traits that aren’t either hateful or pathetic: He’s a coward, traitor and false populist who sympathizes with that poor Caligula and is which is strangely hinted, attracted to little boys. On top of that, he’s short. His complete worthlessness is only shown by the appearance of his beautiful, noble sister, Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen.

O’Driscoll said, “If Gladiator is anti-monarchial, it's pro-military coup, and Marcus Aurelius's regard for democracy is subsequently overshadowed by the film's concern with the fickleness of "the mob," embodied by the gladiatorial fans. They're portrayed as so easily swayed by spectacle, free bread and bloodsport heroism that it's hard to credit Scott with any sincerity regarding the rightness of restoring the republic.” Meanwhile, in the Hollywood political tradition, it’s a lonely heroic figure – “A Hero Will Rise,” as the posters say – who gives the best if not only hope for justice.

While Maximus is fictional, Marcus Aurelius largely resembles his actual counterpart. However, he was not killed by his son: The real Marcus chose his son Commodus to rule together three years before he died. From there, the story is at least as strange as the one “Gladiator” tells. O’Driscoll noted, “Commodus' misrule worsened as he grew insane, imagining he was the god Hercules and fighting in the arena dressed as a gladiator.” Twelve years into his sovereignty, his advisers had him strangled by a champion wrestler.

In “Gladiator,” it’s hinted that Maximus’s heroic efforts restore power to the republican Senate. O’Driscoll noted, “In history, the death of Commodus was followed by civil strife, ushering in a century or so when multiple emperors ruled at once, presiding over a fragmented empire.” Maximus is praised as most fit to be Emperor because he doesn’t want to. Post-Commodus emperors depended on generals and armies for their power.

Movies like “Gladiator” might not pretend to be a historical movie, but they do influence how people view history, past and present. Scott, working from a story by David Franzoni (who co-scripted), certainly doubted anyone wanted to see a film where heroic sacrifice went unrewarded. O’Driscoll ended his review by saying, “Talk about treating an audience like a fickle mob.”

Now, in all honesty, as good as this movie is, I can see why Doug Walker said that this movie is basically the Moses story. We have seen this story told before so many times about a person who loses everything and has to work his way back up so he can seek his revenge. Still, I think this movie is well done and is another good gladiator type movie that people should check out.

Look out next week for the next installment in “Russell Crowe Month.”