Disappointimus Maximus

Rating: Null/10 (25 March 2001)

Gladiator is quite possibly one of the least rousing, most underwhelming films to ever win a Best Picture Oscar.
This is the tale of Maximus (played with spirit by Russell Crowe in one of the film's few interesting performances), the Roman Empire's best general, who is betrayed by a vengeful emperor-to-be, and eventually enslaved to serve as a centerpiece for entertainment in the arenas of the gladiator. Robbed of his power as a citizen and a general, Maximus finds new power in the admiration of a crowd who adores him.
The interesting premise for this film is poorly executed, plodding along for much of the exposition before getting to any real development in traditional Ridley Scott fashion. With the exception of Crowe, most of the other main performances are uninspiring, and in the case of Joaquin Phoenix, downright dreadful. Phoenix's characterization has as much bite and energy as flat week-old beer, and he creates a villain who is so textbook that he is not formidable in the least.
The fight sequences are entertaining, but shot with such unsteadiness that we are robbed of seeing much of the action. The visual effects are surprisingly bad, looking inappropriately hazy and low-res, with many details ignored.
All in all, Gladiator fails to entertain on many points, and stands, in my opinion, as the most egregiously overrated film in the history of film.