"Infamy! Infamy!...they've all got it in for me!"

Rating: 6/10 (9 June 2007)

Along with many Ridley Scott films "Gladiator" is cleverly made,full of dialogue that at first hearing sounds deeper and and more meaningful than it actually is and comic - book characters. Up to the time of Marcelus's death it holds the interest well enough apart from Mr R.Harris's constant use of the word "Ah!" in order to convey "irony" ,and Mr R.Crowe's occasional lapse into his native "strine" isn't too grating and he's certainly handy with a sword.But the development of the role of Commodus (a name worthy of any "Carry on" movie)as the new Caesar (Mr J.Pheonix about as frightening as a baddie in "Batman")and the ousting of Mr Crowe signal a drastic change from a well - realised account of the conduct of the Roman Army in Northern Europe to a second - rate retread of "Spartacus". With bits liberally borrowed from "Ben Hur" and "The fall of the Roman Empire" and "The Searchers" via "Star Wars",Mr Scott's sources are impeccable,it's his execution that is disappointing. A few British TV actors appear as Senators and such,to very little effect I'm afraid,their over-familiarity does them or the movie no favours.Presumably "Isn't that the bloke from Z Cars?" was not the response Mr Scott was looking for. Where the movie scores is in the Special Effects department. The fight scenes are well - handled,the tigers being particularly impressive,but CGI alone do not a great movie make. The late Oliver Reed acts almost as if he knows "Gladiator" is going to be his last hurrah,it's all in his eyes,most of his dialogue is pretty banal.His leonine head held high with obvious effort,he gives the movie what little gravitas it possesses.His may have been a somewhat checkered career but he went out with all guns blazing. Mr Scott,as highly accomplished as he is ,continues,since "Blade Runner" to be a director in search of a movie.I note that many people believe he found it in "Gladiator",but I respectfully beg to differ.