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"Hurt Me, Baby. Make Me
Write Bad Checks." |
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Directed by Ridley Scott
- Written by David
Franzoni
Starring Russell Crowe,
Connie Nielsen, Joaquin
Phoenix, Oliver Reed
Distributed by
DreamWorks -
2000 - 171mins - Rated R |
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What we do in life echoes in eternity. |
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I find
the Romans fascinating, therefore, I'm glad to say that I applaud
"Gladiator" greatly for it's technical expertise and realism.
Everything looks exactly like it should: from the gladiator arenas to
the swords and weapons, the accuracy is astounding. The acting is
great, too. Russell Crowe won a well deserved Oscar for playing
Maximus, a Roman general who becomes a slave and a gladiator. Joaquin
Phoenix should also be commended for his role as the evil emperor. The
direction, from one of my favorites, Ridley Scott, is perfect.
After all of this praising, why is this only getting a B+? Simple,
Connie Nielsen as the love interest is boring, and the story drags
every twenty minutes or so. Despite this, "Gladiator" showcases some
great battle sequences and some truly dramatic moments. It's well
worth seeing, and even owning, but it is impossible to watch the
entire thing at once after the first viewing. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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TC Candler's Comment
What it lacks in
originality and sharp dialogue... it makes up
for in grandeur and romanticism. This is an old
fashioned epic that has one of the best scores
of all time!
Ridley Scott directs with a
signature flare that is becoming masterfully
recognizable... he really stylizes this epic
with a haunting and mystical touch. Russell
Crowe is a powerhouse in a role he seems
destined to play and the rest of the cast is
equally impressive.
Special note should be paid
to Connie Nielsen whose restrained yet
passionate emotion explodes every time she is on
screen. This could be a break out role for her.
Also take note of Joaquin Phoenix intense power
as the despicable villain.
Gladiator is one of the best
films from 2000 and was a worthy winner of the
Best Picture Oscar.
Richard Propes' Comment
n/a
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