Gladiator

(Ridley Scott/2001/USA)

Scott tackles ancient Rome and delivers an upgrade of older historical epics that Hollywood once had a penchant for back in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Gladiator is fictionalised but rooted in historical fact; most of the characters are real but the story is a daydream of sorts, a big budget, action packed daydream with revenge at its heart. Russell Crowe is great as the grizzled fighter with a grudge working his way from the bottom rung of pit fighting all the way to the glorious fanfare of the Coliseum in Rome where he gets his audience with the Emperor. If you grew up with and enjoyed Charlton Heston’s Ben Hur and Kirk Douglas’ Spartacus then Gladiator should tick a few boxes. It inspired a new wave of interest in Greek and Roman tales in both TV and film in the years that followed due to its success but it is essentially a gum chewing Hollywood summer blockbuster.

(3/5)