Just like in “Braveheart”, the lead in “Gladiator” is a handsome Australian man. And just like “Braveheart”, “Gladiator” is a classic “guy movie”. It’s a long heroic action epic with blood and guts and a good vs. evil conflict.

I always considered myself a “chick movie” chick. I wasn’t that crazy about “Braveheart” because it was so long and so bloody. So I wasn’t prepared to like “Gladiator” as much as I did.

Besides the heavy action and the strategically placed gore, it has real heart and soul and a great story, too. A Roman general finds himself exiled in Africa, where he is forced to fight for the entertainment of bloodthirsty crowds. He soon finds himself able to take revenge on the man who sent him into hiding.

Russell Crowe gives his performance all the intensity that he gave to his role in “The Insider”. He doesn’t say much, but what he does say, he means. This is definitely going to be his breakthrough role. The Academy rarely gives out acting awards to action films, but I hope they make an exception next year. He was that good. (They need to make it up to him for the Kevin Spacey thing this year, too).

Joaquin Phoenix is bloodcurdling as the psychotic megalomaniac Commodus. He’s only been in a few films like “Inventing the Abbots” and “U-Turn”, but he really finds a niche for himself as the emotionally disturbed villain. His scene with Richard Harris is heartbreaking. He may be a psycho, but we understand why.

I think Ridley Scott found a lot of inspiration in “Saving Private Ryan”. Some of the battle sequences, especially the first one, look and feel like the famous Omaha Beach scene in “Private Ryan”. At least one scene has the same grainy, disorienting jumpy-camera effect.

The score is amazing. I bought myself a copy right after I saw the movie. It’s the third star of the movie. It’s definitely one of Hans Zimmer’s best. The photography is amazing, too. And the costumes. This is really just one big amazing movie.



Recommended:
Yes