A flurry of Roman Empire-era films dominated culture as well as the box office back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, but the genre faded from the zeitgeist in a post-Vietnam America tired of combat. That is until the year 2000 when the Roman Empire made a thrilling return to the box-office with Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.
A big budget risk that paid off, the now-classic film gave us iconic lines like “Are you not entertained?” and oft repeated and spoofed moments like Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus giving his thumbs down seal of disapproval.
From General to Gladiator
As the epic begins, Maximus, unforgettably portrayed by Russell Crowe, is a celebrity general from Spain who commands intense loyalty among his enlisted brethren. He is also the favorite of the dying emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). On his death bed, Marcus names Maximus the protector of Rome rather than his own son, Commodus. However, Commodus, a rival of Maximus, doesn’t understand his father’s animosity towards him and takes action to stop the appointment.
A battle ensues, and after escaping death at the hands of Commodus, Maximus finds out that the empire has also murdered his wife and son. Maximus then seeks passage to North Africa to flee the chaos and Commodus.
Unfortunately, our hero is captured on his journey and sold as an enslaved person to Proxima (Oliver Reed) who procures slaves and arranges small-scale fights amongst them. These type of competitions were banned by the late Aurelius, but when Commodus takes the throne, he lifts the ban on gladiator exhibitions imposed by his late father.
Fighting His Way Back to Rome
As an enslaved fighter for Proxima, General Maximus slashes his way through the competition, defeating competitor after competitor until his heap of victories lands him back in Rome. This leads to a high-profile battle in which Commodus is in attendance. Maximus is of course victorious, and his skills earn the emperor’s attention.
Thinking he’d destroyed Maximus in battle, discovering his old adversary is indeed alive and kicking is not welcome news for the narcissistic and petulant ruler. And that’s when the Game of Thrones-style palace intrigue begins.
Maximus’s relationship with the emperor’s sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) leads to her hatching a plan with Senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi), a politician with no love lost for Commodus. Together they conspire to rid themselves and the empire of the loathsome Commodus. Maximus’s role in the coup is to escape from Proxima and lead the waiting army into Rome to restore the republic.
Though the coup is intricately planned, the odds are stacked against Maximus and the would-be usurpers. As plans begin to unravel, Maximus finds himself in a precarious position with his new allies either killed or captured. In such a state, the general-turned-gladiator is forced to fight one last time in the arena, this time against the emperor everyone loves to hate, Commodus.
What makes Gladiator a stream-worthy epic?
It’s hard to imagine anyone else leading this action-packed journey through ancient Europe besides Russel Crowe. Nobody else could pull off lines like “I am required to kill, so I kill. That’s enough.” His performance imbues the character with a fierceness that can be sharp and soft at the same time, fierce in battle but also fiercely loyal.
It’s also hard to imagine any other actor making the audience hate Commodus as much as Joaquin Phoenix does. Another top-notch casting choice. For both actors, this film was THE turning point in their careers, the moment they went from beloved indie actors to household names, and with good reason.
Visually, the film is stunning, creating an immersive cinematic experience that transports viewers out of their living rooms and right into Ancient Rome. Part of that is achieved by color palettes that pop in a way that tells a story all their own.
Combine all that with a timeless tale about good vs. evil and some bloody well-choreographed combat scenes, and you’ve got the recipe for an epic film that will live on infamy.
Should you stream Gladiator?
If all the accolades are any indication, then the answer is YES!!! The film was nominated for a slew of Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects. The film ended up winning Best Picture, and Russell Crowe snagged a statue for Best Actor.
Whether it’s an old favorite or it would be a completely new experience, Gladiator definitely deserves a stream this weekend. Find it on Paramount+ or access it via a Starz subscription on platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime.
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