When referencing the perfect “man movie” Director Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic “Gladiator” is the quintessential choice. Brutal fight scenes, massive bloody battles, a decapitation and subsequent fist pumping with said corpses head in hand – and that’s just the opening sequence.
That the picture won five Academy Awards including the prestigious honors of Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe) proves it’s not just a story about hardened warriors engaged in fisticuffs in the confines of Ancient Rome’s historic amphitheater – but a much deeper rooted tale with excellent writing and unforgettable characters.
“Gladiator” serves as a perfect period piece; its set in 180 AD when “one quarter of the world was under the control of the Roman Empire.” An early opening battle introduces us to Maximus (Crowe) a top general in the Roman army and titular protagonist in the film. Maximus is a skilled fighter and revered leader, and his honorable character has brought him close to the aging emperor Marcus Aurelius, who looks upon Maximus as the son that he should have had (setting up obvious tension with Commodus, the son he actually does have – more on that later).
At the end of the battle, Maximus has but one request of the emperor; to return home to his wife and child. Maximus’s road to the loving and warm arms of his family is interrupted when he is forced into the role of gladiator, which eventually lands him fighting in the Colosseum in Rome.
“Gladiator” wins in its depiction of the brutality of fights in the arena of the ancient Colosseum. A venue constructed some two-thousand years ago is brought to life, and the marvel and awe of a building that is now in ruins tells us of a period in history hundreds of lifetimes ago.
“The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate…its the sand of the Colosseum,” as one senator explains. An assortment of warriors with a seemingly limitless supply of melee weapons make up the fights – with victory belonging not to the best fighter, but to whoever isn’t dead at the end.
Russell Crowe makes his mark on Hollywood in the role of Maximus, and a better choice of casting I could not envision. While Crowe is a man’s man for sure, his toned body replicates the realities of fitness in the times the movie takes place in. Taut and strong but not flowing with the crib sheet of elixirs so many present day musclemen readily employ. Maximus doesn’t spend hours grunting on a bench press. He doesn’t need to.
While Crowe’s persona of gladiator is the most abundant, he is also seen as a loving father and dutiful husband who doesn’t want to fight at all, he just wants to go home to his family, mentioning at one point it has been 2 years and 264 days since he last saw them.
Opposing Crowe is Joaquin Phoenix in the role of Commodus. One of my favorite actors turns in one of the greatest movie villains you will ever encounter. Commodus is vile on a horde of fronts. The spoilt son of Marcus Aurelius believes his ascension to the emperor’s throne is his biological right, trumping his lack of character and selflessness.
While Maximus is introduced in the opening battle, Commodus doesn’t make his entry until the fight is clearly over, as he rides in in the midst of certain safety. “Have I missed it? Have I missed the battle?” He feigns in surprise. “You have missed the war,” his father reminds him, further fueling the jealousy he already retains for Maximus and his relationship with his own father.
Commodus does nothing to earn his place. Cheating and deception are his allies over honor and integrity, thus seeing him a complete opposite of Maximus.
The supporting cast ads depth without drawing attention away from the focal stars. Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla, the older sister of Commodus. Lucilla has feelings for Maximus, which get in the way of his faithfulness to his wife and the incestuous advances of her brother.
Djimon Hounsou and Ralf Moller are perfect compliments as fellow gladiators and eventual friends of Maximus. And the highly recognizable Tommy Flanagan as Maximus’s loyal assistant Cicero is a good choice.
What keeps “Gladiator” from being a straight ‘A’ movie is the length. Trimmed down to a solid 2:15 and it would have been perfect.
My fondest memories of “Gladiator” come courtesy of several debaucherous parties at a friends house in 2002-2003 in which the movie played on a seemingly endless loop on the TV in the background all night long. It’s a great movie, and one thoroughly deserving its “man movie” moniker.
by – Matt Christopher
