US Edition 
Gladiator, review
Marc Lee reviews a Ridley Scott classic that every film-lover will want to own
The words "Ridley" and "Scott" on the back of the director's chair are no guarantee of quality. There are a handful of unalloyed masterpieces, among them Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982), but then look at GI Jane (1997) and Hannibal (2001), films best described as risible and execrable.
Amazingly, sandwiched between these last two is a work that sits easily among Scott's best. The magnificent Gladiator is a sprawling, enthralling Roman orgy of blood, passion, betrayal and revenge. It is monumental movie-making: visually thrilling, technically astonishing, and emotionally engaging.
The cinematography, whether depicting the bone-crunching, flesh-tearing horrors of battle or the imperial decadence of second-century Rome, is outstanding (anachronistic, computer-generated "helicopter" shot of the Colosseum included). But the key to Gladiator's greatness is Russell Crowe's career-best performance in the lead role.
Crowe won a best actor Oscar for his role in Gladiator. Photo: Rex Features
As Maximus Decimus Meridius, he is required to combine the courage of the empire's finest soldier with political astuteness and the heart-warming sensitivity of a devoted family man; and he does so brilliantly, often with little more than a fixed, laser stare or a barely intelligible growl. He is simply mesmerising.
Maximus's troubles begin after he has conquered the rebellious tribes of Germania and learns that Caesar (Richard Harris) has chosen him as his successor. When Caesar's son, the whingeing wimp Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), finds out, he grabs power for himself with breathtaking brutality. Maximus flees but is sold into slavery, ending up as a gladiator in Rome, where eventually he confronts the snivelling architect of his misfortunes in the arena.
It's an epic tale - most of it pure fiction - eloquently told. But, though the film bagged five Oscars, including best picture and best actor, its endlessly quotable script ("At my signal, unleash hell"; "What we do in life echoes in eternity") was mystifyingly overlooked.