A Tasteless epic!

Rating: 6/10 (4 June 2000)

"Gladiator" was preceded for a heavy advertising and previews in the TV and theathers for almost six months. All my friends were very anxious to see one more swashbuckling epic from one of Hollywood's most respected directors, Mr. Ridley Scott. I was too because the Roman Empire is one my favorite subject since I was in high school. But "Gladiator" is not a Roman Empire epic, it's just a action-packed movie, with some lame love scenes and one more crazy Roman Emperor in the middle of the mess (Commodus, a routine and unimaginative performance by Phoenix). The direction is heavy, dull and without flavour. Crowe who is now saluted as the most proeminent name in Hollywood nowadays seems to me not so good in fact. Indeed, his performance is just convincing but not brilliant.
I think "Gladiator" gives us good reasons to miss "Spartacus" and "Ben Hur". Note: 06