☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roger Ebert’s two-star review is discussed through his “Rocky on downers” comparison, objection to the film’s joylessness, and later criticism of the special effects.
In the discussion (3)
- Ebert gave Gladiator two stars.
- He compared the story to “Rocky on downers,” said the film lacked joy, and criticized its reliance on bitter, morose characters.
- He later stood by the review and criticized the special effects.
The third gladiator fight—the first Colosseum battle, ending with Maximus revealing himself—is the unanimous favorite after a field spanning the opening war, political scenes, escape, earlier arena fights, tigers, and the final confrontation.
In the discussion (9)
- The opening Germania battle is nominated and praised for realism, physical scale, and immediate character building.
- Marcus Aurelius asking Maximus to rule is nominated for establishing their bond and a generational passing of the torch.
- Commodus killing Marcus Aurelius is acknowledged as powerful but not a scene the panel would casually dial up.
- Maximus escaping his execution is nominated, with the caveat that the family aftermath makes the scene hard to continue watching.
- The first chained gladiator fight is nominated for the strangers’ rapid teamwork.
- The one-versus-six “Are you not entertained?” fight is nominated.
- The first Colosseum battle and Maximus identity reveal are the unanimous choice.
- The tiger fight is nominated.
- The pre-final confrontation between Commodus and the chained Maximus is nominated for Maximus’s verbal reversal.
Opening dialogue, background arena brutality, Joaquin Phoenix’s improvised outburst and performance, memorable lines, post–Game of Thrones incest jokes, and the sword-and-sandal fights make up the aged-best field.
In the discussion (7)
- The gladiator combine’s casual background violence is praised as vivid world-building.
- Commodus’s “am I not merciful?” outburst is praised and reported as improvised.
- “It vexes me” is praised.
- Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is called flawless.
- “Tell the men their general lives” is praised and connected to a personal comeback joke.
- Suggestions of incest are jokingly said to have aged better after Game of Thrones.
- The film’s sword-and-sandal fight scenes are called the best one host has seen.
The runtime, repeated Elysium imagery, Senate ending, digital Oliver Reed, and missing Proximo action draw objections.
In the discussion (5)
- The movie could lose roughly twelve to fifteen minutes.
- The repeated wheat-field Elysium imagery feels heavy-handed.
- The Senate and restored-republic ending is questioned.
- The digitally completed Oliver Reed material is visibly artificial.
- The film loses an intended Proximo fight because of Reed’s death.
Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman are mentioned as reported Maximus possibilities, while Crowe’s push for Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius lost to Richard Harris.
In the discussion (3)
- Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman are mentioned as reported possibilities, with the hosts unsure of the sourcing.
- Russell Crowe reportedly pushed for his Insider costar Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius.
- Ridley Scott chose Richard Harris after reported back-and-forth.
Tommy Flanagan wins over Ralf Moeller, though one host recognizes Flanagan primarily as Chibs from Sons of Anarchy.
In the discussion (3)
- Tommy Flanagan is selected because one host still recognizes him as the scarred man from Gladiator.
- Ralf Moeller is the other nominee.
- The choice is disputed by a host who sees Flanagan as Chibs from Sons of Anarchy.
Oliver Reed wins for Proximo’s scenery-chewing line readings; the subsequent research anecdote says Reed challenged Russell Crowe to a fight.
In the discussion (2)
- Oliver Reed is selected for his grand, scenery-chewing Proximo speeches.
- A research anecdote says Reed took an instant dislike to Crowe and challenged him to a fight.
Ralf Moeller’s Hagen wins over Richard Harris and the Germanic war leader.
In the discussion (3)
- Richard Harris is nominated.
- The Germanic leader from the opening battle is nominated.
- Ralf Moeller is selected for Hagen.
Angelina Jolie for Lucilla is rejected; Kevin Garnett for Juba is endorsed with an accent caveat.
In the discussion (4)
- Angelina Jolie is proposed for Lucilla.
- The Jolie proposal is rejected as too modern or overpowering.
- Kevin Garnett is proposed for Djimon Hounsou’s role.
- The Garnett proposal is supported if the accent can be managed.
Research covers the cost of digitally completing Oliver Reed footage, historical Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Maximus, and Lucilla, Crowe’s injuries, the Gladiator effect, sequel plans, Nick Cave’s script, and the film’s unusual finality.
In the discussion (10)
- Digitally completing Oliver Reed footage reportedly cost an extra $3.2 million.
- Marcus Aurelius died during the Antonine Plague rather than being murdered by Commodus.
- Historical Commodus fought in arenas, brutalized disabled people, ruled after his father, and was strangled in his bath by the wrestler Narcissus.
- Maximus is identified as a fictional character.
- Lucilla was implicated in an assassination plot, exiled, and later executed on her brother’s order.
- Russell Crowe accumulated numerous injuries, including finger numbness, Achilles trouble, broken and cracked bones, tendon injuries, and a wound visible on screen.
- The film is credited with a “Gladiator effect” that revived popular interest in classical history and historical epics.
- Years of sequel ideas included a Maximus prequel and Lucius sequel.
- Nick Cave wrote an unmade sequel in which Maximus returns from hell, fights through history, and ends as a modern Pentagon general.
- The panel notes that a comparable modern action film would likely reserve its hero for sequels, while Gladiator gains power from Maximus dying.
Crowe and Connie Nielsen receive affirmative apex rulings; Hans Zimmer is proposed, gladiator movies are disputed against Spartacus, incest is deferred to Game of Thrones, and touching wheat is affirmed.
In the discussion (6)
- Russell Crowe receives three audible affirmative apex judgments.
- Hans Zimmer is proposed for Apex Mountain.
- Connie Nielsen receives an unquestionable affirmative ruling.
- Gladiator movies are disputed against Spartacus on quality and historical impact.
- Incest is denied because it peaks later in Game of Thrones.
- Touching wheat is jokingly affirmed as an apex, with Gladiator said to take the image fully mainstream.
Commodus’s delayed killing of Maximus, ride timing, Germany-to-Spain travel, and the forest execution are questioned.
In the discussion (4)
- Commodus should kill Maximus immediately.
- The ride-to-dawn timing is questioned.
- Travel from Germany to Spain is implausibly compressed.
- The execution squad’s forest procedure is questioned.
“What we do in life echoes in eternity” and “At my signal, unleash hell” are the leading quotes.
In the discussion (2)
- “What we do in life echoes in eternity” is nominated.
- “At my signal, unleash hell” is selected as the most reusable.
The panel advises against expanding the film into a ten-episode remake because Rome already covered the terrain; it then traces apparent Gladiator echoes in Game of Thrones.
In the discussion (3)
- Rome is cited as an existing series in the same space.
- The film should not be remade.
- Game of Thrones carries direct echoes of the film’s political and arena spectacle.
The panel asks which arena mask each host would choose, whether Gladiator is a sports movie, how to classify Commodus’s predation, and which WWE plot the story resembles; it also records a Ridley Scott marriage fact.
In the discussion (5)
- Which of the available gladiator masks would each host choose?
- Does Gladiator qualify as a sports movie?
- Is Commodus primarily motivated by incest or by pedophilia?
- The actor playing Maximus’s wife, Giannina Facio, married Ridley Scott in 2015.
- Which WWE plot does Maximus versus Commodus resemble?
Russell Crowe wins two explicit votes; Joaquin Phoenix receives one, and fields of wheat receive a joke vote.
In the discussion (3)
- Russell Crowe receives two explicit winner choices.
- Joaquin Phoenix receives one explicit choice.
- Fields of wheat receive a joke choice.
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Russell Crowe
- Speaker not identified
- Russell Crowe
- Speaker not identified
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Speaker not identified
- Fields of wheat
Roger Ebert's review
Most Rewatchable Scene
What’s Aged the Best?
What’s Aged the Worst?
The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance
Apex Mountain
The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie
Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake
Who Won the Movie?