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The Rewatchables · May 5, 2020

Gladiator

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan host Shea Serrano host Jason Concepcion

Casting what-if: Reported Maximus possibilities
Sequel or remake: No ten-episode remake

All 16 categories

Who won the movie Russell Crowe
Roger Ebert
Dion Waiters Award Ralf Moeller’s Hagen
“That Guy” Award Tommy Flanagan

Most Rewatchable Scene · 31:41

The first Colosseum battle, ending with Maximus revealing himself

The opening Germania battle is nominated and praised for realism, physical scale, and immediate character building.

Bill Simmons: Marcus Aurelius asking Maximus to rule is nominated for establishing their bond and a generational passing of the torch.

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie · 1:22:34

“What we do in life echoes in eternity”

“What we do in life echoes in eternity” is nominated.

The film

Gladiator (2000)

Directed by Ridley Scott · Action

155 minutes

IMDb Letterboxd JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Russell Crowe Maximus Decimus Meridius

Joaquin Phoenix Commodus

Connie Nielsen Lucilla

Oliver Reed Antonius Proximo

Derek Jacobi Senator Gracchus

Djimon Hounsou Juba

Richard Harris Marcus Aurelius

David Hemmings Cassius

David Schofield Senator Falco

John Shrapnel Senator Gaius

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

28:31

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 00:28:31Read transcript

Ebert gave Gladiator two stars. — Bill Simmons
He compared the story to “Rocky on downers,” said the film lacked joy, and criticized its reliance on bitter, morose characters. — Bill Simmons
He later stood by the review and criticized the special effects. — Bill Simmons

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31:41

Most Rewatchable Scene

The first Colosseum battle, ending with Maximus revealing himself

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 00:31:41Read transcript

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. — Bill Simmons
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. — Shea Serrano
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.

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55:34

What’s Aged the Best?

Opening dialogue, background arena brutality, Joaquin Phoenix’s improvised outburst and performance, memorable lines,...

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

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:55:34Read transcript

The gladiator combine’s casual background violence is praised as vivid world-building. — Jason Concepcion
Commodus’s “am I not merciful?” outburst is praised and reported as improvised. — Chris Ryan
“It vexes me” is praised. — Bill Simmons
Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is called flawless. — Shea Serrano
“Tell the men their general lives” is praised and connected to a personal comeback joke. — Shea Serrano
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. — Bill Simmons

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1:00:03

What’s Aged the Worst?

The runtime, repeated Elysium imagery, Senate ending, digital Oliver Reed, and missing Proximo action draw objections.

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:00:03Read transcript

The movie could lose roughly twelve to fifteen minutes. — Bill Simmons
The repeated wheat-field Elysium imagery feels heavy-handed. — Chris Ryan
The Senate and restored-republic ending is questioned. — Jason Concepcion
The digitally completed Oliver Reed material is visibly artificial.
The film loses an intended Proximo fight because of Reed’s death. — Bill Simmons

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1:03:37

Casting What-Ifs

Reported Maximus possibilities: Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman; Christopher Plummer a...

Reported Maximus possibilities: Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman; Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius (Crowe’s unsuccessful preference)

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:03:37Read transcript

Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman are mentioned as reported possibilities, with the hosts unsure of the sourcing. — Bill Simmons
Russell Crowe reportedly pushed for his Insider costar Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius. — Bill Simmons
Ridley Scott chose Richard Harris after reported back-and-forth. — Bill Simmons

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1:03:59

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Tommy Flanagan

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:03:59Read transcript

Tommy Flanagan is selected because one host still recognizes him as the scarred man from Gladiator. — Bill Simmons
Ralf Moeller is the other nominee. — Bill Simmons
The choice is disputed by a host who sees Flanagan as Chibs from Sons of Anarchy. — Bill Simmons

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1:05:02

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Oliver Reed

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:02Read transcript

Oliver Reed is selected for his grand, scenery-chewing Proximo speeches. — Bill Simmons
A research anecdote says Reed took an instant dislike to Crowe and challenged him to a fight. — Bill Simmons

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1:06:11

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Ralf Moeller’s Hagen

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:06:11Read transcript

Richard Harris is nominated. — Jason Concepcion
The Germanic leader from the opening battle is nominated. — Jason Concepcion
Ralf Moeller is selected for Hagen. — Jason Concepcion

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1:08:30

Recasting Couch

Kevin Garnett as Juba, with an accent caveat

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:08:30Read transcript

Angelina Jolie is proposed for Lucilla. — Chris Ryan
The Jolie proposal is rejected as too modern or overpowering. — Bill Simmons
Kevin Garnett is proposed for Djimon Hounsou’s role. — Bill Simmons
The Garnett proposal is supported if the accent can be managed. — Bill Simmons

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1:10:19

Half-Assed Internet Research

The cost of digitally completing Oliver Reed footage, historical Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Maximus, and Lucilla, Cro...

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)

Approx. transcript time · 01:10:19Read transcript

Digitally completing Oliver Reed footage reportedly cost an extra $3.2 million. — Bill Simmons
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. — Bill Simmons
Maximus is identified as a fictional character.
Lucilla was implicated in an assassination plot, exiled, and later executed on her brother’s order. — Bill Simmons
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. — Bill Simmons
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. — Chris Ryan
The panel notes that a comparable modern action film would likely reserve its hero for sequels, while Gladiator gains power from Maximus dying. — Jason Concepcion

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1:18:36

Apex Mountain

Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen, and touching wheat

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:18:36Read transcript

Russell Crowe receives three audible affirmative apex judgments. — Bill Simmons
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. — Bill Simmons
Incest is denied because it peaks later in Game of Thrones. — Bill Simmons
Touching wheat is jokingly affirmed as an apex, with Gladiator said to take the image fully mainstream. — Chris Ryan

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1:21:03

Picking Nits

Commodus’s delayed killing of Maximus, ride timing, Germany-to-Spain travel, and the forest execution

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:21:03Read transcript

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.

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1:22:34

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

“What we do in life echoes in eternity”; “At my signal, unleash hell”

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:22:34Read transcript

“What we do in life echoes in eternity” is nominated.
“At my signal, unleash hell” is selected as the most reusable.

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1:22:51

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

No ten-episode remake

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:22:51Read transcript

Rome is cited as an existing series in the same space. — Bill Simmons
The film should not be remade. — Bill Simmons
Game of Thrones carries direct echoes of the film’s political and arena spectacle. — Bill Simmons

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1:24:17

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Preferred arena masks; whether Gladiator is a sports movie; Commodus’s predation; the analogous WWE plot

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:17Read transcript

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? — Bill Simmons
The actor playing Maximus’s wife, Giannina Facio, married Ridley Scott in 2015. — Bill Simmons
Which WWE plot does Maximus versus Commodus resemble? — Bill Simmons