On June 6, 2018, Russell Crowe recently met up with his co-stars, such as Connie Neilsen (Wonder Woman) to visit a real-life Colosseum for a charitable screening of the 2000 film Gladiator.
Gladiator is one of those historical, epic films that you never forget. Released in 2000, it is still one of the best films in Hollywood history. The film directed by Ridley Scott, an award-winning director and starring some of the hottest A-listers in the industry, Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, and Richard Harris. Russell gave one of the most excellent performances in his career. He played Hispano-Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed by the government he serves. Commodus is the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He murders his father and seizes the control of the throne. For Maximus’s loyalty, he’s demoted and made a slave to serve the new regime under Commodus. He turned into a Gladiator to fight in the arena. Maximus sees this as an opportunity to exact revenge on those who murdered his family and beloved emperor.
If you haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend it. The film is filled with treachery, betrayal, and revenge, the three parts that make a great drama! It doesn’t stop there. You will feel sympathy for Maximus. He’s just a man who wanted to return home to his family after a long campaign. He had no interest in politics. However, when Commodus learns that his father deemed him unfit to rule and has considered Maximus as his successor, Maximus suffers a fate worse than death.
Denouncing Commodus’s rule, Maximus is imprisoned and informed his family will be killed. This enrages Maximus. He frees himself from captivity and rushes to his home only to find his family murdered by Commodus’s authority. Crowe (Maximus) does an excellent job emoting his loss. You could feel the pain he’s experiencing. In his grief, Maximus is discovered by slavers who take possession of him and sells him to Proximo, a Gladiator trainer in the Roman province of Zucchabar.
Maximus soon realizes he has an opportunity to take revenge by being the best Gladiator. This will give him access to Commodus’s special tournament. He uses his military skills to rise through the ranks quickly. Proximo sees himself in Maximus and decides to help him by giving him advice. For Maximus to exact revenge, he must “win the crowd” to obtain his freedom. Soon an opportunity presents itself, and Maximus knew he must bide his time.
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If I go any further, I will spoil the film for you. So, I will focus on the cinematography. It is breathtaking. Cinematographer John Mathieson created a masterpiece. It is the main reason Gladiator is one of the most rented via DVD Netflix. Lighting and composition are essential for any film. Cinematic effects, such as the camera positions play a crucial role in supporting the plot and characters. Mathieson made great use of color to define a scene. Evert cinematic effects used to enhance the film. When you add the musical composition by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard to amazing cinematography, you have a film that’s truly extraordinary and memorable. The featured song, “Now We Are Free,” was performed by The Lyndhurst Orchestra and conducted by Gavin Greenaway has received global gold and platinum status by the top recording agencies.
DVD Netflix Synopsis:
Fans of Gladiator’s original theatrical release will appreciate this extended version of the epic Ridley Scott film, packed with extra action footage and gripping dialogue. Featuring a strong supporting cast and an Oscar-winning performance from actor Russell Crowe as the dauntless Roman general Maximus, this big-budget Best Picture winner became an instant classic — and helped elevate its leading man to icon status.
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Gladiator is available via DVD Netflix. Rent or add the extended edition to your queue today. You will not be disappointed.
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