The Best Picture of 2000...

Rating: 8/10 (12 September 2008)

Historical inaccuracies aside, Gladiator is the film deservingly awarded the Best Picture of 2000. I'm not very keen to the history of the film, which might put my opinion of the film into a different context than that of a person who knows where, when, and what happened at the specific day and age this movie takes place.
The acting is all well done. No one is wooden or stale, and Russell Crowe is absolutely flabbergasting as Maximus. Phoenix is superb as Commodus, and Oliver Reed does a marvelous job as Proximo. Richard Harris' few moments of screen time are very good, and Djimon Hounsou is excellent as Juba.
The writing and direction is spot on. This is one of Ridley Scott's better films, and David Franzoni's script is beautifully written, despite the reported inaccuracies.
Hans Zimmer's score is also the best of the year. Deep and moving, the score is gorgeous from its more subtle tracks, to its absolute bombast and explosive moments.
The special effects used to create a thriving Rome are remarkable. Very realistic and adds to the epic scale of the film. The action is great too, though the camera angles and editing is a bit muddled, and it tends to get difficult at times in which the audience is trying to judge what is happening to who. The visual style of the film can get disorienting -- which is a positive and negative critique -- as some of the scenes are shot with shaky-cam moves.
Overall, Gladiator is one of the best sword-and-sandal epics of all time, and definitely the best film of 2000. From its tragic story, to amazing performances, this film is one I highly recommend.