Brilliant epic

Rating: 9/10 (17 April 2000)

I saw an advance screening of Gladiator and was for the most part blown away. Russel Crowe's versatility radiates in this picture, compared with The Insider. He is the ulitmate Roman hero, vanquished by political enemies. His challenge will not only be to survive his predicament, but to restore the values, hopes and dreams of a forlorn nation torn by greed, economics, and evil.
The cinematography is awesome- Kurosawa-esque in it's grandeur, magnatude, and graceful treatment of the action. There are many smaller hand to hand encounters that are also exciting.
The true power of this film lies in the brilliant performances of Crowe as a magnetic hero, and Joaquin Phoenix as the tortured heir of the Roman kindgom.