Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR is a film to be discussed with 'magnum opus' reverence, the epic story of one man's quest to obtain vengeance for the murders of his wife and son. Set in the era of the Roman Empire, Maximus' (Russell Crowe) fall from general to slave at the hands of the emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) sees him navigate a Rome in transition, as murmurs of the empire's waning strength grow with each gladiatorial victory. As the epics-with-a-capital-E tend to do, it tackles the questions burning in our minds: How will our deeds impact others after we leave this Earth? Does eternity await those who seek earthly gain or is there an alternative path, a preferred path? Should each man be responsible for their own rule or does the mob operate better under the control of one voice? To what extent is our civility a sham, a tattering curtain mere threads away from tearing under the weight of our collective id, our primal lust for violence and blood?
With one of Hans Zimmer's best scores and landmark performances from both Crowe and Phoenix, GLADIATOR hopes to, like so many before it, provide some answers. | This movie was recommended by my friend Resa; follow her on Twitter: @resa. | Follow Daniel on Twitter: @TheMovies_Pod
