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Gladiator
- favourite film

Ridley Scott , in spite of supposed major disagreements between various parties about the script, and the death of Oliver Reed during the filming schedule, made a well-crafted movie that tells its story.
Two other sixties pin-ups, David Hemmings and Richard Harris, also made near swan-song appearances in the film, and it provided work for British character actors like the ever-excellent John Shrapnel, and a meaty role for Sir Derek Jacobi who made his name in an earlier (and rather deeper) Roman piece I, Claudius.
There’s plenty of fighting to keep you interested; tigers; a tour-de-force villain performance by Joaquin Phoenix; and Russell Crowe’s muscular acting. The production went on to win big at the Oscars, including Best Film and Best Actor (for Crowe) and deservedly given they brought Oliver Reed back to life Best Visual Effects (though Stevie Wonder could play spot the difference and win).
It’s the sort of film that does win Oscars; and does well at the box office. But when you compare it with its ancestor Spartacus there is something far less fulfilling about it. You either love blood and sand epics, or you don’t, and I’ll go with don’t on this one.

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