More than twenty years after the acclaimed original won five Oscar’s at the 2001 academy awards, Ridley Scott returns to continue the Gladiator story.
In the lead role this time is Irish actor Paul Mescal, who plays Lucius, son of the great Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe in the first film).
Having been sent away by his mother for his own safety, the young prince grows up in Africa, far from the politics of Rome.
There he is captured and sold into the servitude of Denzel Washingtons Macrinus, who, recognising the youngsters raw aggression, forces him into life as a gladiator.
With Rome now ruled by the callous twin emperors Geta & Caracalla, and his mother (Connie Neilson returning from the original) now married to Pedro Pascal’s Roman General Acacius, Lucius is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and fight for his freedom in front of his mother and thousands of spectators at the coliseum.
While composer Harry Gregson-William’s score is familiar and gives plenty of nods to Hans Zimmer’s iconic original, Ridley Scott has clearly made a concerted effort to make this sequel feel different.
The films inevitably share certain beats, but this is no cash grab cover version.
The veteran British filmmaker dials up the crazy, by introducing rabid Baboons, Rhinos and even Sharks (yes sharks!) to the colosseum battles. And while that’s all pretty silly and will no doubt enrage historians, the epic clashes are wildly entertaining to watch.
In the lead role, Mescal, clearly and excellent actor capable of nuance, lacks the charisma of Russell Crowe and his pensive performance is a little too understated for a film as bonkers as this.
Washington however, knows exactly what kind of film he’s in and milks it for all he’s worth with a deliciously overwrought performance as Macrinus the ambitious power broker with eyes on the throne.
Pedro Pascal lends solid support as the lauded General Acacius, while Joseph Quinn & Fred Hechinger star as Rome’s twin emperors and their frenetic and agitated energy brings an unpredictable edge to proceedings.
While it’s less weighty and lacks the emotion of the original, Gladiator II looks fantastic and the mammoth scale and scope of the film is something that can only be admired. Its unlikely to garner the same awards buzz its predecessor did, but is nonetheless a hugely enjoyable slice of popcorn entertainment.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
8/12/24
x @grittster