GLADIATOR 2
Theatrical release: November 13, 2024
Duration: 2h28
Director: Ridley Scott
Main actors: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen
Synopsis: Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced into the Colosseum when his country is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find the strength and honor to restore Rome to its people.
For some time now, there has been something that is no longer working in the films of Ridley Scott. After seeing Gladiator 2 with a friend, we were of the same opinion: Gladiator 2 did not inherit much from its predecessor and does not renew the genre.
As for me, when I heard about the project of a sequel to Gladiator, I was a little disappointed. Gladiator did not necessarily need a sequel because the ending was sufficient. But if you know a little about Hollywood, you are hardly surprised to see scenarios that had been abandoned come out of the closets to make sequels. This project of Gladiator 2 seemed to me to have the scent of déjà vu just by its title. In other words, it smelled of fir.
Before analyzing the film, I wanted to clarify that I have not recently revisited the original film. My approach is deliberate: my previous experiences have taught me that rewatching a first opus before its sequel can often lead to disappointment. I therefore chose to discover Gladiator 2 with a neutral and open look, without preconceptions or immediate comparisons.
As we left the screening, there was a scent of disappointment in the air. I wouldn't say we hated the film, but it lacked something that could leave the viewer in awe at the end of the screening. Of course, the spectacle is guaranteed thanks to the many battles that take place in the arena, including the naumachia.
The sets are notably lacking in variety, with the film focusing primarily on the arena, which takes up nearly two-thirds of the screen time. This spatial limitation creates a sense of confinement, which could suggest budgetary constraints. However, with an estimated budget of between $250 and $310 million, Ridley Scott had the means to develop a more ambitious staging. But I will return to the details of the production later.
Regarding the choices of the main actors like Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal or Connie Nielson who takes over the role of Lucilla, their presence is not to be questioned. Denzel Washington delivers a masterful performance in the role of Macrinus, strongly embodying the devouring ambition of a former slave determined to rise in Roman society. His charismatic presence and his intense interpretation eclipse that of Paul Mescal, however the main protagonist in the role of Lucius Verus.
But it is especially the writing of some characters that is weak. As in recent films, Ridley Scott forgets to put some depth into the secondary characters like that of Arishat, Lucius' wife, played by actress Yuval Gonen. Her character has a limited presence in the film, appearing only briefly in two scenes, which does not allow the audience to develop a real emotional attachment to her.
But while the performances of the main actors contribute to the film's charisma, not everything is perfect. Some situations and dialogues lack naturalness and seem artificially integrated into the story, harming the work. For example, the scenes between Lucius and Lucilla sometimes suffer from narrative inconsistencies. I think there should have been fewer fights and the scenes should have been reworked so that they were better linked together.
However, the film still has some strengths. The visual effects are successful at certain moments, such as the appearance of the rhinoceros in the arena, even if the presence of the rhinoceros in the fighting arena is debatable. As for the scenes of naumachia in the arenas that I thought were historically inaccurate,they did exist. According to historians, these naumachia as they are called were present even if they remained rare because of their cost, and were only conceivable for certain arenas adapted for the occasion.
Gladiator 2 was marred by production difficulties, with filming extending from June 2023 to early 2024, largely due to the actors' strike. The script struggled to see the light of day, with first drafts as early as 2000, but no version was satisfactory. Three screenwriters succeeded one another between 2000 and 2018, and although Nick Cave proposed a bold version in 2006, it was rejected for being too radical. Numerous rewrites and internal and external elements contributed to this film being a messy project that was not mastered from start to finish.
In conclusion, I would say that Gladiator 2 is a film that offers an impressive visual spectacle and benefits from solid performances from its lead actors. However, it fails to capture the essence and impact of its predecessor. The lack of innovation, writing issues, and production constraints have led to a film that, while entertaining, does not fully meet expectations. It remains a great entertainment for those looking for action and spectacle, but fans of the first installment may feel some disappointment at the lack of narrative depth and character development.
