Capo
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Post by Capo on May 10, 2007 22:26:46 GMT
Gladiator Ridley Scott 2000 USA After he is betrayed by the Emperor's son, a loyal Roman general returns as a gladiator and wins over the crowd. Three things to note: you can't imagine this film without Hans Zimmer's score; the cast are all splendid, especially with the contrast in performances between the physical Russell Crowe and the emotionally unstable Joaquin Phoenix; the production values, especially costumes, are wonderful. Scott's use of colour and space is effective (grey, expansive use of space for Rome, Commodus and the Senate, brown, sandy and claustrophobic for Maximus, Proximo and the slaves); it has to be one of the most successfully measured films of recent times in terms of commerce. At worst it is very watchable, at best it is terribly re-watchable; not only is it one of the most easily quotable films since Pulp Fiction, but its narrative structure makes it an easy target for mainstream success and "cult" status too - a fight, some political mumbo-jumbo, another fight, then some more mumbo-jumbo. This blend, of macho violence and political intrigue, becomes amusing after a few watches, but it rises to the occasion when the plot strands come together for the rapid final act; and it hasn't been matched since as far as historical epics go.
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