What potential! What happened?

Rating: 7/10 (11 May 2000)

"Gladiator" was the one film I was really looking forward to seeing this summer (asides from X-Men). So when I finally got to see it, I was all set up to really enjoy a summer epic-- not blockbuster or action flick, but an epic, because I expected no less from Dreamworks or Ridley Scott. What I got instead was a film that was stunning and breathtaking in every way, save the script. The script for "Gladiator" dragged the entire film down. What essentially happened-- and it's disturbing how easily this pattern applies-- is that the writers broke down the script for "Braveheart" and rewrote it using shallower characters and stilted dialogue. The actors did a superb job with the pathetic material they were given, particular note being given to the performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe. The visuals, particularly Scott's stylized way of altering the contrast and film speed during the action scenes to lend it that "unreal" aspect, were amazing. I have an amazing amount of respect for the SFX people who did the Colisseum-- really good job, guys. The pacing was also very nice. They managed to make a very dense movie. However, the script continually kept the film from hitting true epic greatness-- despite the best efforts of everyone associated with it. After having read articles about the script problems "Gladiator" was going through, it's easy to see where the problems stemmed from. Likewise, the only other problem I found with the film was the score, which was a bit heavy-handed and predictable (then again, the predictability comment could be handed over to the script as well). My friends and I could predict EVERYTHING from opening shot to final scene within about five minutes-- perhaps just because we saw "Braveheart", perhaps because the script didn't take the risks it could have. Why didn't Proximo have moral problems with being a gladiatorial profiteer even after he KNEW the psychological issues gladiators get? Or even if he was so caught up with the thrill and the popularity-- why wasn't his character given more depth on this level? Why didn't the script go into some REALLY difficult places-- like forcing Russell Crowe to combat his friends? Why wasn't more done with the concept of winning over the mob as creating political power? There were so many issues that could have been addressed that weren't-- and it was sad. Overall, an impressive piece of cinema-- if you look beyond the script. Congratulations guys-- with a good script in hand, you could have had a legend. As it stands, you have a fun evening diversion.