There Will Be Blood

Gladiator (2000):
What’s It About?: General Maximus (Russell Crowe) cements a victory for the Roman empire, and is rewarded by being named the new emperor-to-be. But the expected emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) finds out, kills his father and Maximus’ family, and tries to kill Maximus himself. Maximus eventually finds himself a gladiator in the coliseum, where he risks his life for the entertainment of the crowd and the new emperor, Commodus, himself. With vengeance in mind, Maximus tries to win the crowd’s favor and his own freedom, and kill the emperor above all.
How Good Is It?: It is in fact great film-making, but I was not all that into it. Phoenix and Crowe turn in swell performances, the effects are really good and the action is pretty impressive. So what prevented me from loving it? Just Braveheart five years previous, and most sword-and-sandals epics. It doesn’t have anything new to add, really, so even though its perfectly proficient, it’s essentially meaningless and forgettable.
Was it Best Picture?: Nah. Again, we already gave the Oscar to Braveheart in 1995, so awarding this is like overkill. My personal choice was and still is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which remains an elegant masterpiece, and unlike just about anything I’ve ever seen. True to form, Crouching Tiger is also still well-regarded, whereas Gladiator doesn’t seem to ever come up. The Oscars have a rich and interesting history, but Gladiator just kind of sits there in the film canon, taking up space.

Comments

[Adam Fiedler]

Well, although i am in agreement for the most part, i would like to add that most people overlook the one unique feature about this film. There was no scripted dialog. The entire film was acted on direction of sceanereo and emotion, and the actors had been given cart blanch. To think the movie was total improve impressed me greatly... that and I'm a sucker fro a good sword flick! (well, you already knew that!)

[John S.]

Actually, I did not now that fact about this film at all. I wonder if knowing that when I see it would improve my opinion of it; In fact, I imagine it'd have to.