Gladiator (DVD) Review
Winner of five Academy Awards including Best Picture, and nominated for an additional seven, Gladiator is among the best produced and directed films of its time. Reminiscent of Mel Gibson's Braveheart, it creates a world so seemingly realistic, you are drawn backward over time towards the glory times of Rome. The musical score, colorful costumes, and intricate sets combine to create the illusion that one is really witnessing the trials and travails of human existence in early millennial Rome.
The film opens with a sobering display of ancient warfare's equivalent of "shock and awe" as the Roman legions advance on a band of rebels resisting the empire from the outskirts of Gaul. From the moment the legion commanders signal attack, the fury of hell is unleashed as flaming arrows and iron bars batter a unified front of rebel fighters. The scene is more comparable to Desert Storm than an ancient battlefield, also it visually illustrates the overwhelming power once embodied in the Roman legions.
The central figure of the film and leader of the opening battle is Maximus (Russell Crowe), a Roman general adored by his men and admired through the empire for his impeccable character. While visiting the battlefield, the maturing Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) reveals to Maximus his secret intend to appoint the overall caretaker of Rome upon his death, using the understanding he will restore the Senate and eliminate the dictatorial rule of the Caesars. But unbeknownst to both men, the emperor's overly ambitious son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) learns from the plan. He murders his father and demands the allegiance of Maximus. Once the general refuses, the new emperor calls for his execution, trying to eliminate all who stand it his way. However the plan goes awry when Maximus escapes, setting the stage for the central conflict from the film as Maximus the gladiator grows in legend and Maximus the slave challenges the authority of the Roman emperor...
Crowe is cast well within the roll of the classic hero, but it's the supporting cast which puts Gladiator in another dimension of cinematic excellence. Joaquin Phoenix dominates the screen with his impassioned portrayal of the darkly ambitious Commodus, providing film lovers by having an early peek at his now apparent acting genius. Richard Harris is his usual charismatic onscreen presence, while Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and Derek Jacobi lend excellent complimentary support to the role of Maximus as their characters unveil the driving life force and internal motivations of the larger than life Roman hero. As a result, the effectiveness of the cast creates a synergy reflected in the overall quality of the memorable film.