Brilliantly graphic and stunningly beautiful

Rating: 9/10 (21 May 2000)

Ridley Scott's masterful "Gladiator" concerns a, you guessed it, gladiator who's family has been gruesomely butchered and has been thrown out of his position as general by the emperor Commodus. Soon, Maximus fights his way into the harsh world of the gladiator, and begins to defy an empire. Commodus soon realizes that he is becoming the underdog and is literally losing his fame. Soon, he develops a plan. The musical score is extremely beautiful and yet heroic and powerful. I have a gut feeling that will be nominated for Best Original Score.
The director, Ridley Scott, who's previous films include the frightening "Alien" and the action-packed "Bladerunner", does a wonderful job as director in this flick. He knows when to use a tool and when not to, and sometimes he needs to know how explicit a tool can be, and he succeeds in this. The acting is superb. Russell Crowe is an instant Oscar nomination, and the guy (I forget his name) who plays the African gladiator is superb, and he might snag a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The sister of Commodus puts on an O.K. performance, and while Commodus is a weak and pathetic character and the actor does that well, he is pretty fake. Now, since my review is coming to an end, here is what this will receive: Nomination for: Best Actor Best Sound Best Supporting Actor (Maybe) Best Picture (A chance it will be) All in all, this is a 10 out of 10 movie, even though it has small pieces that are a little off-course, it's still a 10. All hail Gladiator!