A graphic display of the gladiator wars in Rome. I came, I saw, I conquered

Rating: 9/10 (6 May 2000)

Russell Crowe is emerging as one of Hollywood's most enterprising actors with critically-acclaimed roles in Oscar nominated films such as "L.A. Confidential" and "The Insider," the latter earning him an Academy award nomination for Best Actor (which he solely deserved). It comes as no surprise then why renowned director Ridley Scott ("Blade Runner") would chose Crowe as the hero, Maximus, in this Roman epic about the gladiator wars and the struggle of the Roman Empire. Another wise choice on behalf of Scott was his selection of the dimensional Joaquin Phoenix who plays Commodus, the heir of the Empire after his father's death. Phoenix plays the typical jerk, the antagonist that defies all that is good and what goes against the people. Of course, that's his role but it's a juicy one. One of the best things about this film deals with its own aesthetic quality. If marveling over how realistic some of the fight scenes weren't enough, Scott digitally enhances the scenery to bring Rome right to your pupils. It's visually stunning and quite remarkable (Oscar-worthy perhaps), but it just may well be (sadly enough) its only redeemable feature.
This film is an astonishing visual achievement nonetheless thanks to the special effects team under Scott's command, but that's all the sword can penetrate through unfortunately. Crowe and Phoenix do what they can, and they do a great job of it, but the script is too choppy, too complex in its nature that we have a hard time making sense out of crucial moments, especially if you're not aware or Rome's history or the hidden Shakespearean peculiarities. I, myself was confused at times simply because some of the inside references went over my head. Although subplots and climactic moments are crucial in the overall core of the movie, it did not deter however from the overriding aspect of the film's protagonist. Crowe delivers a grand performance that is quite complimentary to his previous ones, and "Gladiator" proves that he has the versatile capacity to transform into anything. He came, he saw, he conquered. Indeed