Stirring film with an impressive performance by Crowe

Rating: Null/10 (28 May 2000)

This was an impressive film, highly recommended. Russell Crowe has gone beyond his performance in L.A. Confidential and shown himself to be a truly first-rank actor. Maximus is portrayed realistically and vividly, and you leave the film feeling that he really existed and that you met him. Only a stone will view the film and not feel his pain. Russell Crowe makes this film, outshining even Derek Jacobi as senator Gracchus (whose part is on the small side) and Richard Harris as the aged Marcus Aurelius (who seems now always to play himself). Crowe gets my vote thus far for best actor this year. On the whole the film strikes and excellent balance between the action sequences, the power struggles of the empire under a bad emperor, and the passion of Maximus for his family. From an historical point of view, this film does many more things right than wrong, which is remarkable for any film these days. On the minus side, the viewer may come away with the impression that Commodus' reign was relatively brief, but he ruled from 180-192 C.E. What the film does best in those terms is to portray aspects of Roman religion, in Maximus' devotion to his household gods. Some may be disappointed that there are too few actual scenes of gladiatorial combat (the film's title is somewhat deceptive) but I think most viewers will find this a relief. The film is violent but it does not dwell on the violence needlessly, and many opportunities for gratuitous depictions of violence were wisely skipped. Add to this an impressive and haunting musical score and you have a wonderful movie.