Gladiator (2000)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

David Franzoni (story)
David Franzoni (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 May 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

On my command - unleash hell

Plot:

When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by a corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Warrior | Rape | Altered Version Of Studio Logo | Roman Legion | Historical

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 45 wins & 79 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 22	5:30 PM	MAX
Sat. July 26	7:15 PM	MAX

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Maximus
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Commodus
Connie Nielsen	...	Lucilla
Oliver Reed	...	Proximo
Richard Harris	...	Marcus Aurelius
Derek Jacobi	...	Gracchus
Djimon Hounsou	...	Juba
David Schofield	...	Falco
John Shrapnel	...	Gaius
Tomas Arana	...	Quintus
Ralf Moeller	...	Hagen
Spencer Treat Clark	...	Lucius
David Hemmings	...	Cassius
Tommy Flanagan	...	Cicero
Sven-Ole Thorsen	...	Tiger

Also Known As:

The Gladiators (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for intense, graphic combat.

Runtime:

155 min | 171 min (extended version)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating on appeal) | Brazil:14 | Taiwan:R-12 | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #37084) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Malaysia:18SG | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Israel:PG | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

At one point, Commodus mentions the emperor Claudius to Lucilla and Lucius. Derek Jacobi, who plays Gracchus in this film, played Claudius in the BBC TV series _"I, Claudius" (1976) (mini)_ . Brian Blessed who played Caesar Augustus in "I Claudius" has a cameo appearance as a Coliseum spectator during the games.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Many of the helmets worn by the gladiators are of types introduced up to 700 years later.

Quotes:

Lucius Verus: Are you the one they call the Spaniard?
Maximus: Yes.
Lucius Verus: They said you were a giant. They said you could crush a man's skull with one hand.
Maximus: A man's? No. A boy's?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'The Phantom of the Opera' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Etruria

One of the Greatest Movies Ever

I love history, and to me, Gladiator is a masterpiece. It is the most accurate picture of the Roman Empire Hollywood has ever put out. People declare Spartacus a masterpiece, but Gladiator far outdoes Spartacus in quality. The costuming, the acting, the screenplay, the scenery, and the fighting styles made me think that I had traveled back to 180 A.D. Russell Crowe is a true Hollywood tough guy, and he is superb in this movie. Joaquin Phoenix is outstanding as a villain, one of the best in movie history. He played his character as if it were a psychologist's dream case. Connie Nielsen plays one of the strongest female characters that I have ever seen. The choreographer of the action sequences was brilliant. Ridley Scott did an outstanding job in recreating the Empire, including the multitude of ethnic groups within the Empire and accurately depicting everyday life. If you're looking for insight into what the Roman Empire was like, this is a perfect depiction.