Russell Crowe became a major star playing Roman General Maximus, betrayed by the emperor's son and sold into slavery, only to become a star as a gladiator in the arena. Scott and his crew of movie magicians made it all believable, while the cast gave the larger than life screenplay depth and compassion. A real crowd pleaser. Finally, a film that went to the dogs. Guest is blessed with a talented cast who serve him and the characters well.
Mock documentaries are difficult to execute.
Guest makes it look easy. There was something for everyone, and I'm not talking about the endless, mindless stream of wide releases that infested local cineplex's over the last twelve months. How refreshing to arrive at the end of the year with enough choices to fill out a top-ten list. It's even rarer to find two in the same year. It's a perfect example of filmmaking, so precise in its depiction of time and place you become part of the experience.