Gladiator by Ridley Scott (2000)
I don’t think I’ve watched Gladiator in its entirety since its original theatrical run, though it frequently pops up in memes and Instagram reels. There’s no denying that Ridley Scott’s film is an epic in nearly every sense of the word, and Russell Crowe’s Oscar-winning performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius is still a delight to watch. Crowe gives Maximus a sort of world-weary dignity and gravitas that’s quite affecting, especially during the early scenes with his troops. On the other hand, Joaquin Phoenix’s scene-chewing as Commodus has not aged as well, and is probably more silly and comedic than Ridley Scott intended. Also, we’re so used to epic battle scenes these days thanks to CGI that Gladiator’s Colosseum battles seem surprisingly small-scale by comparison even with all of the impressive production design.
I may earn an affiliate commission on items you buy through Opus. These commissions will go directly to support the site and my blogging.