Hey folks, Harry here. God... this day just continues to depress me. I wish this was the film that I was watching tomorrow night. Don't get me wrong, the film is gonna be great. But I've been dying to see GLADIATOR and all these friggin reviews from folks are just about to drive me nuts. Well, at least we don't have too long to wait... right? Here's that crazy s.o.b. Segue with his look at what sounds like a really great movie.
Head Geek,
This is Segue Zagnut. Fresh off the why-was-the-insider-even-nominated-band-wagon, I got a chance to see Russell Crowe's next movie, GLADIATOR.
Let me start by saying Crowe is a god. Truthfully, I didn't know that before. I still have not seen L.A. Confidential even though I said I would after I loved Wonder Boys. (Sue me) And who remembers him from Romper Stomper? (why did I even see that?) This movie proves Crowe is going to be around a while. He has old school Harrison Ford quiet intensity down better then Ford. He has Mel Gibson type sex appeal of masculine good looks only ah.. younger. He commands this film. You understand him and you want to be him, even as he is tortured and destroyed. There are points in the film where we have to believe that at a moments notice anyone will follow this man to their death... and you believe it. He walks in the room and you believe it. I feel so strongly about his performance that I better stop describing or I will sound like his publicist.
GLADIATOR is great across the board. The film starts on a battle field, Crowe is leading an army of men against brutal odds into war. The landscape is covered in attacking armies and as Crowe's side rushes the front line with burning arrows and flying explosives, Crowe himself leads an almost suicide mission attacking from behind. This scene is amazing. Powerful images. Graphic. Beautiful. A perfect use of special effects as fire shoots through the sky in apocalyptic glory over the heads of the rushing army... if the ending of Episode One had been this dark and intense then no fan boys would be complaining.
And this is where the film starts. The action trough out this film is the best it ever gets. All of the gladiator fights are crazy. The best one features Crowe fighting the top ranked gladiator while four tigers guard the corners of the ring. The effects work is seamless. The fighting is incredible. The action is non-stop.
Typically, my problem with violent revenge themed films is the violence is all glory and no regret reducing it to an adolescent fantasy. This film is not a fantasy. This film keeps it real. Gladiators die. Soldiers die. Tigers die. Both sides, the 'hero' and the 'villian', are changed after their killings. The murders have relevance to the story and emotional arches of the film. He is a hero because of what it costs him not just because he is on the righteous side. The Greek inspired drama of it plays with confidence as an epic, but without the self awareness of Forrest Gump or Dances with Wolves.
Richard Harris, Djimon Hounsou, & Connie Nielsen all do fine jobs rounding out their supporting roles. Having originally won his freedom as a gladiator and now the owner of them, Oliver Reed plays both a father figure and a business man. His role is small but well used and played. Reed's sword fighting scenes in the Three Musketeers have never really been parrelled on film. I think it is likely that ten years from now I will feel that way about the tiger fight in Gladiator. It just seems perfect for Reed to have a great performance in a great movie for his last role. Thank you for that casting.
Okay, now it is not all praise. I think this movie was great. I think this movie will be an incredible hit. I think Crowe will be a mega movie star. But, I didn't love it, and the problem is with Joaquin Phoenix.
Phoenix plays the bad guy. I respect his performance, because it was committed and rounded. The problem is I didn't like the choices. I didn't believe his wimpyness. I didn't believe that he was strong enough to place himself at such risk near the end. It seems we have seen this brand of wanna-be ruler too often... week and girly... callous and impulsive. He's not just a rapist but incest too. I felt like we were hit over the head with THIS GUY IS BAD. But then again it is based on a true story and the real guy WAS bad... sadly, Phoenix pulled me out of the movie enough that some important dramatic beats didn't connect as well emotionally as they should have. And, occasionally I found myself waiting for Crowe to come back on screen.
The audience I saw it with loved it. The roar of applause and cheers were great, but the real sign of an involved crowd were the spontaneous verbile exclamations of 'Yeah!' or 'Now! NOW!' I heard a few times. This movie is going to be a monster. Do yourself a favor and put this on your must see list.
Consider This... Segue Zagnut
