Can a gladiator save "Gladiator?"
by Herb Kane

March 20, 2001


out of 4 stars (R)

CRITIC DOCTOR EXAMINES: Mick LaSalle (San Francisco Chronicle), J. Robert Parks (tollbooth.org), Chuck Rudolph (matineemag.com), Peter Berger (themestream.com), Jerry Saravia (moviething.com), Jeffrey Overstreet (tollbooth.org), Mr. Cranky (mrcranky.com), Ron Wells (filmthreat.com), Rob Blackwelder (splicedwire.com), and Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)

The opening fight scene in "Gladiator" caught my attention, but after the dust settled - I fell asleep! Despite the movie's flaws, I ended up liking the film - thanks to Russell Crowe.

"Gladiator" is about a fictional character named Maximus (Russell Crowe), a loyal military leader whose family is butchered by order of the new Roman emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Maximus is then enslaved by gladiator trainer Proximo (Oliver Reed) and is forced to become a gladiator himself. He later fights in Rome's Colosseum and seeks revenge on Commodus.

Mick LaSalle (San Francisco Chronicle) said, "At 2 1/2 hours, 'Gladiator' is a long ride, but it doesn't drag. The story keeps pushing forward, with lots of action and intrigue."

For the love of God, Mick! After the opening battle scene, the movie presents dull dialogue and sprinkles us with a few actions scenes. I dozed off for crying out loud! The agonizing length of this movie is a major problem:

• "After the battle, the film returns to its slow, brooding pace." J. Robert Parks (tollbooth.org)
  
  
• "It's a 2 ¾ hour snooze fest, with lots and lots of talk that's too heady and interred for the action crowd, and too formulaic and lightweight for the dramatic crowd." Chuck Rudolph (matineemag.com)
  
  
• "Somewhere inside this 3 hour death march is a 90 minute movie struggling to get out. It's just a poorly edited movie." Peter Berger (themestream.com)
  
  
• "The film meanders at such a languid pace that it is often to difficult to stay awake while watching it." Jerry Saravia (moviething.com)

When I was awake, some of the cheesy special effects, camera work and visuals distracted me. Jeffrey Overstreet (tollbooth.org) said of director Ridley Scott: "He borrows camera speed-tricks from Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan' without learning how to use them effectively. As a result, the audience sees a lot of action, but has no sense of where the players are on the field, and rarely sees how anybody accomplishes anything. Imagine trying to watch a fight while having yourself beat up and you'll have the idea."

I got a better example, Jeff. It comes from Mr. Cranky (mrcranky.com). He says, "Let me give you an idea what watching this film's action sequences is like." Go to http://www.mrcranky.com/movies/gladiator.html now and read it. It's hilarious! "Gladiator" did, however, have some amazing special effects such as re-creating the Colosseum in Rome. But did "Gladiator" re-create other elements in the movie?

Overstreet also said, "One romantic flashback, which is used again and again and again, is a close-up of our hero's hand gliding through the wheat of the farm he loves. This is a blatant rip-off from Terrance Malick's beautiful work 'Days of Heaven,' almost an exact copy. If a songwriter can sue a pop singer for stealing a melody, can any legal action be taken against something like this?"

Ron Wells (filmthreat.com) compares it to director Julie Taymor's "Titus" where Anthony Hopkins plays the Roman general. "Having just returned from years of battle, the victorious and popular soldier has the opportunity to become Emperor himself. After turning the position down, the new Emperor, Satuninus, the decadent and untrustworthy son of the late Emperor, views Titus as a threat. Following exile and the deaths of most of his family, Titus vows revenge on his tormentors. Any of this sound familiar?"

Ok. So "Gladiator" isn't entirely original. It tries to elevate itself to the grandeur of epics gone by, but fails. Russell Crowe's Maximus, however, saves this film. Rob Blackwelder (splicedwire.com) describes him best: "His intensity provides a stoic and undeniably heroic presence. His potent gaze and his calm, resonant voice has masculinity and strength to spare. He also looks dramatically valiant and virile in all that armor."

If only that darn second act wasn't so boring. Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) said, "This same story could have been rousing entertainment; I have just revisited the wonderful 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' which is just as dim-witted but 12 times more fun. But 'Gladiator' lacks joy."

I do give credit to the late Oliver Reed for his part as Proximo. He brought humor to the film, but unfortunately he wasn't utilized enough.

Rob Blackwelder summed the movie up best: "Given a less ridiculous ending, a little more dramatic integrity, a little less box-office ambition and a slightly more frugal editor (the 150 minute run-time could have easily been 130), this entertaining but aggravating popcorn flick might have rivaled its legendary genre predecessors."

"Gladiator" is a three star movie that could have been a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the editor seemed as rushed as the film's special effects.

Luckily, for director Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe (like an undefeated gladiator) comes to the film's rescue.

--CRITIC DOCTOR

© Copyright 2001 by Herb Kane
All rights reserved.
www.criticdoctor.com

FILM CREDITS

CAST:

Maximus: Russell Crowe
Commodus: Joaquin Phoenix
Lucilla: Connie Nielsen
Proximo: Oliver Reed
Marcus Aurelius: Richard Harris

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott
PRODUCERS: : David H. Franzoni, Steven Spielberg, Douglas Wick
SCREENPLAY: David H. Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson
U.S. DISTRIBUTOR: DreamWorks SKG
RELEASE DATE: 05.05.2000
RUNNING TIME: 150 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (violence)

Official Movie Website