There's one thing that elevates this film from standard, schlocky fare and that's Russell Crowe.

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2000)

GLADIATOR is not a new story or an overly deep one, but it does entertain. There's a lot more range and depth to Russell Crowe than most Americans have seen up to this point. I, for one, look forward to watching him again and again. Besides the fantastic art direction the only thing keeping your eyes on the screen is Crowe. He gives a subtle, powerful, honest portrayal in a film that wouldn't have been half as good without him. It's not an easy role to pull off and could have fallen into the realm of the ridiculous. No one has tried to make a roman costume epic since the late 60s and the debacle of CLEOPATRA. However, the actors and the filmmakers take their subject matter and characters very seriously, grounding the action in a time and a place one can only imagine. Actually, thanks to Mr. Scott and some amazing computer facts, we don't have to. Rome is alive and well, rearing it's ugly head at the cineplex.