JCM Cinema
Capital

MOVIE BIASES: Have you SEEN the trailers? Surprised THE REEL DEAL wasn’t made a script consultant! Action, history, and Russell Crowe! Let’s ride!
Major Players: Russell Crowe (The Insider), Joaquin Phoenix (8MM), Djimon Hounsou (Amistad), director Ridley Scott (GI Jane). 

“At my signal, unleash hell.” – Maximus (Crowe). This is the one THE REEL DEAL’s been waiting for, ever since that teaser trailer during the SuperBowl. Armed with the seamless Russell Crowe, a badass script, and an old school script rife with conflict, “Gladiator”’s “hell” is so good, it makes one vow never to see heaven.

Circa 180 AD in the Roman Empire, “Gladiator” throws us “Saving Private Ryan”-like into the heat of battle, as outstanding general Maximus crushes an army in Germania for the Empire (“Some people just do not know when they are conquered.”). His only desire is to go back to his wife and kid at home, a place some two plus years removed for his having waged war for the greater glory of the Empire. When ailing Caesar Marcus Aurelius desires to name the general his successor as emperor of Rome, Maximus is screwed out of the leadership in a major way by Commodus, Aurelius’ devious, amoral, passed-over son (a wickedly brilliant Phoenix). Before we know it, Maximus is left for dead, sold into slavery, and reborn as a gladiator, leading a different army of men through the minor leagues of slave-gladiatorial circuits until his triumphant return to Rome’s centerstage. In a sport where its heroes truly loomed like gods, wielding not only the will of the people but also the power of life or death, Maximus vows to Commodus that, “I will have my revenge—in either this life or the next.” And you know what? I believe him.

As evidenced by cool lines like that, “Gladiator” is nine figures of machismo and summer action fare well spent. It has been a while since we have seen a movie as retro-charismatic as this one, content to revel in its antiquity not only in dialogue but also in cinematic style. We are truly transported into a world where words like “strength and honor” mean something, thumbs up or down have more fatal results than merely killing a movie, and someone’s name—and word—is bond. Huge props go to costume designer Janty Yates (whose on point period pieces feel like a character in themselves); Oscar award winning Hans Zimmer (Prince of Egypt) and Lisa Gerrard for the bombastic, epic-like musical score; and to the scripting battle royale of David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson, for tag-teaming on a compelling, moving, and (somehow) coherent script. Aided with gritty, almost newsreel-like cinematography and editing in the battle scenes and beautiful sets overall, Ridley Scott takes your breath away with his artfully staged scenes of violence and quiet reflection. All of the actors are summarily excellent, breathing life into wholly three dimensional characters, particularly the shockingly ambitious Commodus. Joaquin Phoenix (with bad-guy eye shadow) imbues him with a sense of desperation for adoration, which explains his bloodlust (and often comic attempts) for respect.

But this is undoubtedly the movie that will make Russell Crowe a HUGE star. Unfairly armed with a talent for slipping unrecognizably into his roles, the Australian actor inhabits Maximus with all the appropriate degrees of righteousness, tenderness, and athletic arrogance needed as the emotional center of this “sport” (and story), one that would make a combination of the most violent parts of football, boxing, and wrestling seem wussy by comparison. Never once does his eyes let you forget the value of human life, that there are no winners in this sport/story, just survivors. Although at least 15 minutes too long, “Gladiator” is forgiven, and definitely bound for THE REEL DEAL’s DVD collection— “in either this life or the next.”


@@@@ REELS
(FOUR REELS)
An urban legend/instant classic.