Hey folks, Harry here. Dreamworks has been screening GLADIATOR like you wouldn't believe. Not hiding from press or foreign territories. And there is a reason... it kicks ass. Garth (over at Dark Horizons) finally saw it, and he dug it as well. Just a little more than a month to go for this... the first badass film you'll see this summer!
Hey Harry, for some reason we in Sydney Aust got a sneak peak at the finshed epic of Gladiator(the Crowe connection?) Dreamworks/Universal are pretty confident about this movie, and rightly so.... Sword and sandal afficiando's rejoice!! Gladiator is the epic you've been waiting for. It will be the most successsful film Ridley's ever done. And rightly so, this thundering epic recalls the halcyon days of DeMille and the Quo Vadis etc. It makes me remember when big Chuck Heston was at his peak, in the spotlight for his heroic stature, not as NRA head boob. The scope and passion of Gladiator reminds us how few of these films have been made in recent decades, and how welcome a terrific one is.
Ridley Scott jumped aboard this after the Warner Bros fisco 'I Am Legend ' collapsed. Fans justifibly pissed off by that none teaming of Scott and Arnie will more than be satisfied with this. The action scenes are intense and visceral, the human drama actaully works well thanx to a slick script and dynamic performances. Russell Crowe is perfect, his intense demenour is vunerable, tough and heroic. Jaquin Phoenix gives the best performance of his career as the evil, corrupt Emporer and Connie Nielsen is wonderful as his sister. The supporting cast is sensational-Richard Harris gives the elder Ceaser dignity, depth and power. Even Arnie wannabe Ralf Moeller is put to excellent use as one of Crowe's gladiator buddies. Oliver Reed reminds us why he was once the most sought after UK screen actor with a splendidly vivd characterisation. It's also spooky given Reeds sad death whilst making this film, some of the infamous real life party animal's speechs seem very pointed if you know anything about the mans hellraising ways. And given Crowes growing reputation in the roistering arena, it's a bit like the torch is being passed! Added to this Hans Zimmer delivers an all time best score with a rousing fanfare reminiscent of Holst's "The Planets' that perfectly underscores the blistering action and battle scenes. Scott occasinally uses some annoying devices like a shutter effect and post prod. slow-motion, but overall, his handling of this material is right in the money.
It might get a little heavy going here and there, but overall 'Gladiator' delivers in grand style the kind of bloody execution thats been missing for far too long from the big screen. It gets a big 8.5/10 from me- 'Gladiator' rocks!!!
