Gladiator (2000)

Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and Richard Harris.  Cinematography by John Mathieson. Editing by Pietro Scalia.  Produced by David Franzoni, Branko Lustig, and Douglas Wick.  Written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson.  Directed by Ridley Scott.

Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris), the Caesar of ancient Rome at its peak, is dying and chooses General Maximus Meridias (played by Russell Crowe) as his successor over his son Commodus (played by Joaquin Pheonix). Marcus Aurelius’ intentions are good; giving Maximus control would shift the power from the corrupt Caesars to the people by means of a senate. But before the announcement can be made Commodus has ordered for Maximus, and his family, to be put to death.  Maximus races home in effort to save his wife and child, but he arrives too late. 

Incapacitated by grief, he is easily captured by a slave trader and gladiator trainer named Proximo (played by Oliver Reed). Maximus’ previous military training makes him an exciting and efficient gladiator and he soon becomes a reluctant celebrity.  The more fame he earns, the nearer he gets to Commodus, who has become the new Caesar, and the closer he gets to seeing out his vengeance.

After finishing his college education, David Franzoni spent a year traveling around the world. During his adventures he would run into networks of international travelers who would get together and trade books that they had read on the road.  This how he came across Those About to Die by Daniel P. Mannix. 

Though officially a work of fiction, the story was enriched with historically accurate details about the gladiators of ancient Rome and the social and cultural environment they fought in (the book has since been republished under the title The Way of the Gladiator). Over the next thirty years, as Franzoni worked to establish his writing career, he would hold on to this idea waiting for the perfect opportunity to pitch a gladiator movie.

That opportunity came while developing Amistad with Steven Spielberg.  Spielberg was taken with Franzoni’s concept and Gladiator soon became a DreamWorks picture. As part of Franzoni’s contract with DreamWorks, he was given the opportunity to also act as the film’s producer which allowed him more creative control and the ability to be hands-on with the production.

This leads us into the film’s director, Ridley Scott.  Before even giving him the script for Gladiator, the producers at DreamWorks showed Scott a reproduction of Jean-Leon Gerome’s 1872 painting Pollice Verso.  The famous work depicts a gladiator standing over a defeated opponent, waiting for a signal from the crowd on whether or not to finish the job.

This glimpse into another world sparked Scott’s imagination and it was this imagination that would eventually create one of the most amazing action-dramas ever filmed. Seemingly no expense was spared in bringing the second century back to life as Rome’s lavish buildings, beautiful costumes, and deadly weapons were recreated for the film. Gladiator ended up being the event film for the summer of 2000 and ended up one of the top five highest grossing films of the year.

It also earned an amazing amount of critical acclaim, capped by best picture awards at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Gladiator put Ridley Scott back into the back in the public eye and solidified his position as one of the most powerful and influential filmmakers in the world.

Budget: $103,000,000

Total US Gross: $187,670,866

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 155 Minutes

US Release Date: 5/1/00

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Awards:

Academy Awards:
Won for best visual effects, sound, costume design, actor, and picture. 
Nominated for best art /set decoration, cinematography, editing, original score, screenplay written directly for the screen, supporting actor, and director. 

Golden Globes: 
Won for best original score and dramatic picture. 
Nominated for best actor in a drama, supporting actor, and director.

Directors Guild of America: 
Nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. 

American Film Institute’s Top 100 Lists: 
100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains (#50 – Maximus Decimus Meridius).

Tagline: A Hero Will Rise.

Quote: “I will empower you to one end alone; to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it.”