Matte Painting Festival

Rating: 6/10 (8 January 2001)

Why do people think it is so good? It was fair. It was obviously an elaborate production but I was not overwhelmed by the set design or the action sequences. The story was mundane. Maximus might as well have been Moses (born to privilege, cast out by a ruler, returns to exact revenge and free a nation.) Russell Crowe and River Joaquin Phoenix were good but no one else was. The grand scale shots of the coliseum or any part of Rome were obviously matte paintings (painfully obvious.) I don't think I could watch it again from beginning to end, there were too many dull moments. When fair actors speak bland lines I nod off.
I did enjoy the fact that Maximus' (Maximi?) servant was played by Tommy Flanagan (big scar on his face) who's most recent other role was playing the father in "Ratcatcher". How many of the millions of people who saw "Gladiator" saw "Ratcatcher" ?