I am in this film. Have posted about this before, but the scene at 2:02 of this video, I am one of the Romans behind Richard Harris. 12 days of filming in Surrey, UK in 1999.
My favorite movie of the year 2000. I was a 13 year old history buff and my dad brought me to this on its second weekend. It was awesometacular, especially Joaquin phoenix’s slimy supporting turn and the last appearance of legendary stage actor Oliver reed. This movie definitely brought back the classic sword and shield epic that was largely forgotten about in the late 90’s.
Let’s not forget how Gladiator was robbed of the Academy Award for best picture that year by a film that has been almost completely forgotten. (Traffic)
I just heard something about how Ridley Scott cast Joaquin as Napoleon after seeing him in Joker… you’d think his 1st hand experience with casting him as a brutal dictator in this movie would be enough 😉
Given how bias a lot of contemporary sources were during the Roman empire, if there ever was a General who lived a life similar to Maximus I doubt we would hear about them. Some generals who were "too" successful often just disappear from history. A good example might be Ventidius who was the first Roman to ever defeat the Parthians, a significant enemy of Rome at the time. Mark Antony then turns up, takes command of the final siege, sends Ventidius back to Rome for a triumph before he disappears from history. In Rome it didn't always pay to be good at your job. So if a Commodus ever was jealous of one of his father's generals, the treatment of Maximus isn't that unthinkable and it seems unlikely that it would be documented.
Actually, commodus was even worse in real life than he was portrayed in the movie. He was a narcissistic dirtbag and he was truly power hungry. When he did fight in the arena, he fought against cripples and the disabled. Don't try to prop him up into being something that he wasn't. His rule was the beginning of the end of the western Roman empire.
Great breakdown of the film but like others that have commented, Commodus was a horrible Emperor. I mean the dude used to walk around thinking he was Hercules reborn with a lion skin and a club. He was no Caligula but damn close.
TLDR; Russell drank too many beers & ate too many pies also had a fight or two, Oliver Reed died, Joaquin Phoenix pretended to go mad, and Hans Zimmer would recycle the main theme a whole bunch. Oh & Djimon Hounsou did pretty well for himself.
Oliver Reed didn't just die! He drank him self to death in what has to be the most Oliver Reed way possible. A great story Involving ladies of questionably characters, a group of navy sailors, a crappy little bar (that I love. TBH) and obviously an epically stupid amount of alcohol!
@@Fuuntag Actually not trying to be a shit here. But you do you actually anything about what happened at the time? Other than from news stories from people not there? Don't get me wrong, neither do I. I just drink at the bar he died in and hear the stories. But the "wanted things to change." does not land with anything I've heard from people around at the time.
@@mattmcc72 I’m recollecting from interviews with cast members after his death. Russell and some of the production staff lamented that he was drinking again after having a “good”period during which he was practicing abstinence.
I watched Gladiator a few months ago for the first time in years. I enjoyed it, but not as much as when I was in my teens. It is a good film, but its a cut & dry revenge story, & the characters don't have much depth (Commodus was really infuriating constantly whining). Proximo was the closest to have any real interesting character development. Parts of Hans Zimmers score made me cringe (mostly the part where Maximus reveals himself to Commodus). The CGI has also dated. The backgrounds stick out like a sore thumb, & now I could really notice the digital Oliver Reed. That said, while I might seem rather harsh on it, I still think it IS a good film, but just not the brilliant masterpiece its said to be. I honestly much prefer Scorsese's Gangs of New York, as I think the revenge story is more nuanced, the world he created is more immersive for me (Dante Ferretti's large sets are amazing), the characters I think are more interesting, & there are just some things in it that resonate with me personally (Amsterdam's conflicted feelings for Bill the Butcher just hits me hard since I had a conflicted relationship with my late father). Like I said, I still think Gladiator is good, but I just don't enjoy it as much as when I was in my teens. On the subject of Ridley Scott films though, I also recently watched American Gangster for the first time in years around the same time I watched Gladiator, & I think its a much better film. I think Crowe has a more interesting role & gives a better performance, but he is still very good in Gladiator. I'd rate Gladiator a 7/10, so while it might seem my complaints are harsh, I still enjoyed it.
