Gladiator: Substance and Spectacle

Rated R

Russell Crowe delivers a fine performance as Maximus, a venerated Roman general, who falls from grace after incurring the displeasure of the newly crowned emperor.

Following a sound victory over the barbarians of Germania, Maximus wants to return to a simple life and the family he last saw nearly three years ago. But the ailing emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) informs his beloved general that he wants Maximus — not his own son, Commodus (Joacquin Phoenix) — to succeed him. Commodus murders his father when the latter discloses his intentions, and Maximus barely escapes execution. He rushes home to save his wife and son, but a contingent of Roman soldiers arrives before him and slaughters them. Shortly afterwards, a wandering band of slave traders capture Maximus and thrust him into the dark and deadly life of a gladiator.

Maximus wins the respect of his fellow gladiators and shows them how they can better their chances for survival by cooperating with each other. When Commodus’ sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) discovers that Maximus is still alive, she conspires with Senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) to free the former general and topple her unscrupulous brother. Insanely jealous because Rome and his own sister sympathize with Maximus, Commodus vows to destroy his rival without making a martyr of him. This inevitably leads to an exciting, if somewhat heavy-handed showdown.

The film offers more substance than just swordfights and shallow displays of bravado. Profound dialogue and mental conflict between the characters intersperse the action scenes, and Oliver Reed shines in his last role as a former gladiator with ambivalent feelings of greed and remorse.

Gladiator has some flaws. The film portrays Commodus as a one-dimensional, unrepentant villain with no redeeming qualities. This stands in stark juxtaposition to the other characters. Also, the film definitely glorifies violence. For the connoisseur of carnage, there are plenty of splatter shots. But overall, Gladiator transcends its limitations to provide an inspiring and entertaining spectacle.

Allan M. Heller