GLADIATOR 2
(***)-VITO CARLI

"The action scenes are superb-they usually work better than the lackluster drama scenes."

You'll Get a Kick out of This Lively Sequel

(120524) Gladiator 2 is the long-anticipated sequel to the Oscar winning Gladiator (2000) that captures much of the excitement and epic splendor of the original. It is a good old-fashioned sword and sandals historical epic that has some of the flavor of Ben Hur (1959) and Spartacus (1960). At some points Gladiator 2 echoes their plots although it never reaches the heights of those films. The film is a mostly entertaining mixed bag. The biggest flaw of the film is that so much of the plot is clearly recycled.

The film was directed by Ridley Scott, the fine and imaginative British film maker who works equally well with both technology and actors and he also excels at both historic epics and futuristic sci-fi flicks. He made at least three indisputable classics. Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and Thelma and Louise (1991) and Black Hawk Down (2001) often flirted with greatness. Although neither of the Gladiator films matches those achievements (the first Gladiator was good but overrated), this film is a huge improvement over Scott’s last film, the disastrous failed epic bio-pic Napoleon (2023), which featured one of the worst Joaquin Phoenix performances.

Gladiator 2 has a number of top-notch action scenes which make it memorable including a bloody CGI enhanced gladiator duel that features a posse of savage baboons who are so fearsome and huge that they resemble werewolves more than monkeys and one bout involves a man riding a rhino, Historians have pointed out that although rhinos were present in the gladiator duels there are no records of anyone riding a rhino in a gladiator match. The action scenes are superb, and they help make the film worth seeing, but they usually work better than the lackluster drama scenes.

The film has a high-profile cast including Paul Mescal (of Aftersun) as Lucius Verus Aurelius, Pedro Pascal (of Game of Thrones) as General Acacius who wants a better Rome, Denzel Washington (of Othello) as Macrinus. Also, Derek Jacobi of I Claudius as Gracchus and Connie Neilson (of Demon Lover) as Lucille, are back from the first film. Everyone was fine (especially Neilson and Washington), but no one is extraordinary or exceptional. Although the film achieves diversity by including the African American, Denzel Washington and with the Chilean American, Pedro Pascal, no one here looks particularly Roman or even Italian and there are no big roles here for Italian actors. The closest is the star, Paul Mescal who is of Irish descent but he has a nose like the kind you frequently see in Rome so he can pass as Italian.

Moral lines are a bit blurred, but Lucius is the film’s protagonist who is taken off to Rome after a crushing defeat in an African colony. Although he is noble born, he soon becomes (surprise surprise) a gladiator like Maximus Decimus Meridius, the character portrayed by Russell Crowe in the first film His character was the main anchor in the first film, but this suffers a bit because Lucious is not shown as much in this film, so Gladiator II is less focused.

Lucius is consumed with an ardent desire to get revenge against the people that wronged him and his family. On his revenge list are (Pedro Pascal) and the two Caligula like emperors, Geeta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) who think seeing people bleed in public is the ultimate high. These emperors are pale, blonde, fair skinned and androgynous. They are so privileged and perverse that I wanted to see them die as soon as I saw them, but I will not tell you if I got my wish. Most of the other characters are more morally ambiguous and the film makes you ponder who the true villains are and the true nature of evil. The biggest evil is the Roman Empire itself.

Lucious is a strong, smart, and successful combatant but fighting is not his only skill. He is more learned than the moronic, insane, and brainless aristocracy that runs Rome, and he keeps his superiors entertained when he recites witty and wise poetry from memory. At one point he (quoting Virgil) recites, “The gates of hell are open night and day: Smooth the descent, and easy is the way, but to return, and view the cheerful skies, in this the task and mighty labor lies.” This expresses his and the viewer’s desire to return to a more Utopian and moral Rome. See my lengthy and comprehensive article on poetry and film at https://www.artinterviews.org/cinema/guide-to-poetry-in-film..

Behind the scenes there is dissension, betrayal, and plotting among the ruling class. Marcus the military leader and his wife, Lucilla plans to overthrow the kings, Gata and Caracalla. But the kings are so offensive and despicable that you cannot help but hope they succeed.

Macrinus also has ambitions to rise to the top and he is not afraid to throw a few people under the bus to get there. Macrinus, the most interesting character on the bunch is a former slave who became rich dealing arms and eventually made his living managing gladiator contests and finding champions. He is a pragmatist and wants to rise in the empire without changing things or making them better. He has nothing but contempt for dreamers like Lucius. Even though it’s fascinating to watch him, I am so familiar with Denzel that at times I was not thinking I was not seeing a character, but I thought there’s Denzel lifting a sword. Although he is wonderful as usual his title role in The Tragedy of Macbeth was riskier and more convincing.

With it's over the top spectacle and unlikely events some viewers might think the whole film is close to science fiction, but although there were some exaggerations and the story was largely fictional many characters were based on real historical figures including Lucius and Macrinus (who ended up as a Roman emperor who never visited Rome). Unlike the Denzel Washington version the real Martinus was never a slave.

It is a bit of a shame that the marvelous Derek Jacobi (Vicious, several TV and film versions of Hamlet and Dr.Who) is so criminally underused in a nothing part. Jacobi is no stranger to historical epics and his best part was playing the title character in I Claudius. Seeing him in Gladiator 2, just made me want to see I Claudius again, even though I was having an enjoyable time. Coincidentally, Jacobi’s role here and in I Claudius are bookends of each other. Both are Roman Nobles whose dream is to restore the Republic. Seeing people struggle to restore the Republic in ancient Rome seems especially significant now as the current many current politicians are going to soon struggles to limit the increase in the amount of power in the upcoming executive branch.

Overall, I had a jolly enjoyable time, and the film has a certain primal appeal. Although it breaks little new ground, most of the people who love the original should get a kick (and more than a few punches) out of it. Just do not expect anything shockingly new or original.
 

Directed by:  Ridley Scott
Written by:  Screenplay by David Scarpa
Starring:    Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn,
Released:    11/22/2024
Length:    139 minutes
Rating:    Rated R for strong sexual content throughout,
 graphic nudity, pervasive language, and drug use
Available On:    At press time the film is in local theaters

For more writings by Vittorio Carli go to www.artinterviews.org and www.chicagopoetry.org. His latest book "Tape Worm Salad with Olive Oil for Extra Flavor" is also available.
Email carlivit@gmail.com

See the film trailer of the Lee Groban movie directed by Nancy Bechtol featuring Vittorio Carli.
See https://youtu.be/tWQf-UruQw

Come to the New Poetry Show on the first Saturday of every month at Tangible Books in
Bridgeport from 7-9 at 3324 South Halsted.

This is now a monthly show featuring Poetry/Spoken Word, some Music, Stand Up and Performance Art and hosted by Mister Carli. For more information e-mail: carlivit@gmail.com for details


Upcoming features at the Poetry Show:

December 7- Gabriela Ayala, Shontay Luna, and Jose Popoca

January 4 – Dami Andonova, Matt Churney, Dina Marie Marguerite Patrick-Stewart and Eric Allen Yankee

GLADIATOR 2  © 2024 Paramount Pictures
All Rights Reserved

Review © 2024 Alternate Reality, Inc.

 

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