This is the first of a four-part series of films that had Oscar buzz during their years, and why they deserved such attention.
“At my signal, unleash Hell”, “Strength and honor”, “Death smiles at us all. All we can do is smile back…”, “Are you not entertained?! Are you not entertained?!", “My name is Gladiator”, “Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in eternity”.
These are some of the popular quotes from the Academy Award-winning Ridley Scott film, Gladiator (2000). We 've started Oscar week, paying tributes to some films that made an impact, not only with audiences but also in the awards season. In this review, I will share some facts and details about the movie, as well as its impact on this day in cinema. In my book, Gladiator still holds as one of the best movies I have ever seen, and one of the most memorable movie experiences that I have ever had. Let’s talk about this little movie.
Budget and Gross
In the year 2000, movie audiences witnessed a rare kind of phenomenon that hit theatres in the summertime. Actually, it was the movie that started the summer blockbuster season that same year. The film topped the box office with $34.8 million in its opening weekend, ending with a total run with $457.6 million with a budget of $103 million. I believe that even in 2000, that’s a pretty good number for an R-rated movie. But what is so special about Gladiator? For many moviegoers, the list is pretty long, and I am not that pretentious to talk about all of them. But through my eyes of being a cinephile, I will describe just a few that can justify why this is one of the most quotable films and why it ranks among the best of so many.
The Plot
Gladiator tells the story of General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), who is betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was murdered by his son to become the successor and new Emperor. Maximus is accused of killing the Emperor and after being arrested, he escapes to try to find and protect his family from after a Praetorian guard guarantees that his family will die. You must have seen this movie, so it must be worthless for me to reveal what happens next. The plot might sound too familiar, but screenwriters David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson maneuvered to make Maximus's journey full of excitement and glory. It's not a perfect movie by long shot, and we have seen some near-perfect films ever since the release of Gladiator. But what makes this so unique is how easily audiences were engrossed with the main character’s journey from becoming a slave and turning into a gladiator whose lethal combat skills earned him his alias of “Spaniard”. I remember that back home in Puerto Rico on the release day, our theatre was packed and they “ate” every single word of the famous reveal scene in which our hero is face to face with his nemesis for the first time since the emperor’s death. It was one of the few times in which everyone clapped and cheered as if Maximus was present just right in front of us. From its magnificent set pieces, stunning visuals, spectacular action sequences, and costume designs, Gladiator is a truly remarkable experience. Those accolades can only be topped by the unbelievable masterwork of composer Hans Zimmer and the incomparable voice of Lisa Gerrard. If you have any doubts, just listen to “Now We Are Free”.
Awards
Going back down memory lane, I remember the Oscar buzz around this movie, specifically for the magnetic and powerhouse performances of Crowe and Phoenix. Both earned nominations all across the board. In a year where the talented director Steven Soderberg gained a well-deserved momentum with, not one, but two incredible movies, Erin Brockovich and the celebrated Traffic, Ridley Scott's chances to prevail and being the frontrunner were very challenging. Another movie that earned a gigantic momentum was Ang Lee’s foreign film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. That Chinese film stole our hearts with stunning beautiful visuals and became a blockbuster hit. With all of these films in contention and many more, Gladiator earned 12 Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, and 15 BAFTA nominations among others. All of which made this film the one to beat. After winning Best Motion Picture Drama at the Globes and Best Film at the BAFTAs, it became the frontrunner, only threatened by the powerful traction that Traffic had. On Oscar night, Gladiator rose as the big winner, earning five Academy Awards, including Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Actor (Crowe) and Best Picture.
Conclusion
Nowadays we have seen many stories about political corruption, leadership, loyalty, and revenge, but what really captured me about Gladiator is how this 153-minute movie embodied all of these themes in an absorbing, entertaining spectacle that honors what a cinematic experience should be. Rarely we see on screen charismatic performances that are remembered 20 years later like Maximus, who arguably is regarded as one of the most iconic characters ever seen on the big screen. In recent weeks, I rewatched this movie, and yes, it is not perfect, and it might have some historical inaccuracies, but as a whole, it still holds up. It provides an entertaining, engrossing, and exciting experience. Joaquin’s performance reminds us why he is one of the best living actors today and Crowe is confirmed as a legend. Gladiator is in my all-time top ten and it's only surpassed by another particular gem...Braveheart (1995). But we will talk about that…another day.
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