GLADIATOR
SUMMARY
Commodus takes power and strips rank from Maximus, one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the great stoical philosopher. Maximus is then relegated to fighting to the death in the gladiator arenas.
Russel Crowe's, Gladiator is truly an excellent film of its genre. The camera shots are unique to that of its predecessors. It establishes patterns in its scenes that allow the viewer to connect to the film, and it completes a path that leaves no unresolved questions.
CAMERA SHOTS
From the beginning of Gladiator, it stands apart from other toga movies. this camera shot above of a hand going through wheat fields, is the very first one we see. this is not the usual method of opening a toga film. In all others before, they expand on a large city by showing a high angle shot looking down onto the films scenery. This typically gives us as the viewer an idea of where the film takes place. what Gladiator does is give us this view of a close up, instantly establishing questions. Knowing that this is not the normal introduction it must have a different purpose. Clearly we can see that it is a mans hand due to its thick appearance but that it not that main focal point. We do not know who this hand belongs to, but what we can see is a ring worn on his ring finger. During this time period it was common to marry, most men had rings, but by establishing this close up in the beginning we can see that in a sub context we know something about this character. Whoever is this man is, he is loving and most likely has a family that he cares to and for. If this is not something that we were supposed to acknowledge, then why not show his right hand. This one opening scene establishes a connection to this character before anything is said.
Frequently we are given close ups of Maximus, our main heroic protagnoist. In doing so, the film tells us a lot about him as a viewer. Each shot has a purpose. A close up is a very intemate shot, but not all are romantic. Just like in the opening moments every close up of Maximus's face lies emotion that can tell us what is going on without any sort of verbal communicatoin. In other toga movies we see character growth phycially throughout the plot, in Gladiator we see this through close ups. following the opening scene we are given Maximus in what appears a depressed state.
The colors are dim and dull, and in his bland expression we see multiple characteristics. We see sadness which is complimented by these dull colors of grey and faint maroon. Not only this but we can see the wind by his fur cloak worn on his shoulders and and this cold climate adds to this depressed figure. Through this appearance we also derive a sense of empathy that whereever Maximus is, there is a sense of sorrow not for himself but his surrounding environment. seconds after this second close up we see Maximus on a horse in the middle of a destroyed battle field. all of this happens within the first 30 seconds of the movie and already these two close ups inform us a lot of information about our leading character without any sort of narration.
REPITITOIN
What puts Gladiator apart from previous successful epics, is its ability to add scenes that the viewers can relate to. In this scene Maximus is mentally preparing himself for battle. he reaches down to grab a handful of dirt, at this time the background goes blurry and for a brief moment you see him rub the dirt between his fingers in slow motion. It is not clear at first as to what he is doing but through the repetition of this action that we get an understanding of what is happening. this scene is nearly identically replicated five times. Each time this happens, Maximus lowers to one knee and stops to rub the dirt between his fingers and he does so before every fight, every battle, and every war. In all other epics our main hero is always surrounded by the notion that they are above all others and have depictions of god, through these scenes in Gladiator they reassure us that although Maximus is the great warrior and leader he is still human, He has fears. Before every fight they show us this same scene because this is how Maximus is able to calm himself and ready himself for battle. Every gladiator fight is to the death, and in other toga movies we never see a realistic side to our fighter. Gladiator is the first where we see fear and worry, these emotions are not typical in a hero and yet this attributes of Maximus are what make him the perfect her0. this simple interaction that requires 30 seconds of time is how we can see him overcome his emotions and fears. By feeling the ground on which he walks and smelling the dirt he lives on he can truly appreciate what he is and what he comes from and he does this before every fight because he never really knows which battle will be his last.
Through the repetition we can also see specifically what the director wants us to see and help make connections we would normally see. In the openings scenes of the close up on the hand of Maximus it appears that all we are meant to see is the ties it has to his devotion of family. That scene is flashed to four times throughout and as this occurs the camera zooms out and what we see is Maximus's true desire. Going from general to slave to heroic warrior praised by the city, Maximus never appears to be happy within. Having lost his rank and his family it seems as if there is nothing that will truly ever make Maximus feel happiness. through these repetitive scenes we can see that the entire time what was Maximus walking through these fields of wheat, was actually his march to finally be with his family. Without further analysis its possible to come to the conclusion that Maximus just wants to be with his family because hes lost them, however this scene is the very first we see. Maximus, this strong powerful leader has always been seeking to be at peace with his family. In his own way he instantly becomes even more of a relate-able character because we can see that he is truly a humble man fighting for freedom without greed or seeking any benefit. \
TYING LOOSE ENDS
Gladiator does a fantastic job tying together its final scenes to its opening scenes. As above it is not quite clear what were looking at out of context. along with the first shot we see. we finally figure out the purpose of this scene. what the movie starts with is what it must end with. From the beginning it seems that Maximus is day dreaming about his past, constantly thinking about what was and unable to fully engage with the present. its not until this closing scene above that what Maximus has been day dreaming about is what he wants, not what he had.
This closing scene is what makes this movie ahead of its genre because it is the first film where the end goal of our protagonist is not the glory, is not the head of an enemy, but actually die to achieve his happiness. This is not a depressing death or a suicidal one but Maximus's death is the first time he is at peace and no longer withheld from his family. At this point the entire plot changes and our original ideas of what this movie is about are finally disproved. This shot is the first time we see Maximus's family, they did this to have the plot of the movie be unpredictable until its final seconds. the entirety of this movie is about a man solely driven by his love of wife and child and unlike all the other toga movies, Maximus is not seeking god nor has he been tied to god but instead awaits his family upon death.
WRAP IT UP
From the outstanding visuals through camera angles, different shots, and editing work, and the ability to relate to a movie that takes place centuries ago to its brilliant plot structure Gladiator is truly an excellent film. With these attributes there is no question as to why Russel Crowe sparked a new birth of roman entertainment.
Are you not entertained!?