GLADIATOR

US, 2000, 150 minutes, Colour.
Russell Crowe, Joachim Phoenix, Connie Neilson, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, Richard Harris, David Hemmings.
Directed by Ridley Scott.

Gladiator is the first Roman epic for over 35 years. Very popular in the '50s and '60s, especially with such films as Quo Vadis, Demetrius and the Gladiators, Ben Hur and Spartacus (as well as the many Italian sword-and-sandal epics), audiences had not seen a Roman film on the big screen since The Fall of the Roman Empire in 1964.

Direction is by Ridley Scott (Aliens, Blade runner, Thelma and Louise, GI Jane, Hannibal).

The film is set in the period of Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus. Richard Harris is the august emperor. Joachim Phoenix is his mad and corrupt son. Connie Neilson is his sister Lucilla, caught between family and the good of Rome. Derek Jacoby is the leading senator.

However, the film focuses on Russell Crowe and he makes a fine General Maximus as well as a gladiator in the arena. After ten films in Australia, Russell Crowe had made films in the United States including The Quick and the Dead and especially LA Confidential and his Oscar-nominated The Insider.

The film re-creates the violence of the period, especially in the arena and the responses of the Roman mob. However, it also has a contemplative side with the character of Maximus reflecting on the meaning of empire, loyalty to Rome, the fight with the Barbarians - and personal integrity and life after death.

1. The popularity of the film at the end of the millennium? Forty years after the Roman and biblical epics? The popularity of 'sword and sandal' movies? The cinema tradition? The Oscar for best film, and other Oscars?

2. The British, African and studio locations? The re-creation of the battles, the towns of Africa, the arenas, Rome? Sets, costumes, decor? The atmospheric score?

3. The editing, the pace? The style of the epic, the blend of realism with imaginative, even contemplative sequences?

4. Audience knowledge of the Roman Empire and interest in the issues, empire, the emperor, succession, the Senate, the Republic? The traditions of Rome? The tyranny of the emperors? The wars, the incursions of the Barbarians? The role of the military? Games, bread and circuses, the fickle Roman mob? The politics and plots and intrigues? The violence of the Roman Empire?

5. The title, audience expectations? The swordsmen in the arena? The background of war? Prisoners? Re-creation of the Battle of Carthage? The beasts and the arena? The attitude of the audiences, thumbs up and thumbs down? Their ethos?

6. The introduction to Maximus, the initial walking through the wheat fields, his contemplation of his life on the farm, his wife and son? The contrast with the battlefield, the forest, the troops, the officers? His relationship with them? His strength of character? Stoic? The Spaniard? His relationship with Marcus Aurelius? The battle, the strategy, his troops against the Barbarians, their skills? Maximus and his relationship with his horse, the significance of the dog? The Germans as barbarians? Their chief, the attacks, their deaths? Maximus as victor? The acclamation of the troops?

7. The end of the wars with the Barbarians? Marcus Aurelius watching? His praise for Maximus? Their discussions, seeing him as his heir? The danger for Commodus? Maximus refusing to be his successor? His assistant, the betrayal? The fidelity of Cicero? His being taken into the forest, the execution, his escape? From the heights in the empire to slavery? The brutality of the death of his wife and son?

8. Commodus and Lucilla, their relationship, with their father, arriving late at the battle, Commodus with Marcus Aurelius? His rejection? The emperor wishing Lucilla had been a son to rule the empire? The talk of father and son, Commodus's reaction and smothering his father?

9. Marcus Aurelius as warrior, philosopher? Wondering how he would be remembered? The manner of his speaking? His relationships? His death?

10. Commodus as emperor, taking over, his treachery towards Maximus? The parade to Rome? His advisers, his attitude towards the Senate? His personal loneliness, attachment to Lucius, to Lucilla? The perverted implications of his sexual drives? Intrigues, power, the long games, literally giving bread to the crowds?

11. Maximus and the deaths of his family? His being taken, the caravan of slaves, Proximo and the gladiator school? Training? The battles in Africa? The ethos of the arena, the dungeons, the prisoners and their fighting, surviving, decisions to kill or not?

12. Proximo and his story, love of money, the deaths of his gladiators, intrigued by Maximus? The possibility of going to Rome, his advice to Maximus as how to fight, winning the crowd? His respect for Maximus, ultimately helping him, his death?

13. The arena and the crowds, the announcement of the battles? The presence of the emperor and his family? Rituals and tradition? The battles, especially that of Carthage, Maximus and his strategies, surviving? The crowd on his side, Commodus and his curiosity? Lucius and his visit and meeting Maximus? Commodus discovering the truth? Saving face before the crowds?

14. Maximus and his relationship with the gladiators, friendship and leadership, the humour of testing the food? Juba and his background? Lucilla and the memories of the past? The connections between their both having sons? Maximus and his discussions about afterlife and prayer? Cicero and his bringing the statues?

15. The Senate, the clashes with Commodus, his exercising his power over the senators? Gracchus and the possibility of restoring the Republic? His seeing Maximus at the games? Visiting him in prison? The plans for the overthrow of Commodus? His arrest - and his final vindication?

16. Lucius and his attraction towards Maximus, imitating his gladiatorial style in front of his uncle? Lucilla and the threats from Commodus? Commodus and his plotting, whispering, his hold over his sister? The fight in the arena, the gladiators and Maximus sparing a life, the crowd seeing him as merciful?

17. The arrests, Commodus coming to Maximus in the prison and stabbing him? Commanding him to fight? Commodus dying, Maximus dying?

18. The Shakespearian-like resolution of the story, order in the Roman Empire being restored? The film as popular entertainment, values, the visualising of the fighting and the macho attitudes, the humanity of Maximus? The violence and intrigue of the Roman Empire?