“GLADIATOR II”
Starring Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Pedro Pascal, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, Lior Raz, Denzel Washington
Written by David Scarpa
Story by Peter Craig and David Scarpa
Based on characters created by David Franzoni
Directed by Ridley Scott
Produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, David Franzoni
Cinematography by John Mathieson
Edited by Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams

By Matt Neufeld
The Washington Film Institute

Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is excellent, on every level, and the film is a worthy, relevant and smart sequel that solidly stands on its own.

“Gladiator II” simply shines on every filmic level—-production, direction, acting, writing, story, characters, production design, art direction, action, adventure, spectacle, intrigue, meanings, messages, morals and themes.

The film is easily and solidly one of the best films of 2024.

The film is equally worthy of the same high-level accolades that its 2000 predecessor, Scott’s equally-superb “Gladiator,” rightly received. “Gladiator II” is yet another superb, towering achievement for Ridley Scott, who is, let’s face it, a consistently brilliant, masterful filmmaker.

Are we not entertained? We are indeed entertained.

“Gladiator II” picks up years after the events of the first film, as yet another young soldier, Hanno, superbly played with a powerfully understated but still magnetic and riveting screen presence by Paul Mescal, is forced into slavery and forced to be a gladiator. Yes, yes, that parallels the basic story of the first movie, but please rest assured that “II” is no copy or imitation, and, as noted, this fine sequel does indeed have its own story, its own set of original plot points and its own firm identity—and the film does stand on its own firm footing.

Hanno promptly finds himself in the middle of an entirely new set of palace intrigue, back-room politics, intrigue, houses of cards, family drama, political drama—-and some of the best, most intense, most suspenseful and most exciting action-adventure and battle sequences in years. That’s no exaggeration —-it’s just true.

The first ten minutes of “Gladiator II,” which features an intense battle scene, is better than the entirety of most of the lame, dreary, unoriginal and shamelessly cookie-cutter sequelitis-sickened Hollywood dreck forced upon the suffering filmgoing masses for the last six months of an unfortunate 2024. It’s no secret that the summer of 2024 was one of the absolute worst summers for movies in years. It was just awful.

The first ten minutes of “Gladiator II,” it should be noted, is also better than the entire movie version of the painfully awful “Wicked,” which is one of the most disappointing bombs and duds of 2024.

Besides Mescal, the entire cast of “Gladiator II” shines. Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, and here we all are twenty-four years later, and Nielsen returns just as beautiful, radiant and commanding in presence as she was all those years ago in the first film. When Nielsen is on screen, it’s difficult to concentrate on anything else, her presence is so strong. In many ways, she is the strongest presence, and the best actor, in the film. Veteran actor Derek Jacobi also returns as Senator Gracchus, but he and his character are sadly underused in the film. Pedro Pascal is excellent as General Acacius, delivering a strong but still somewhat understated—-in a good way—- performance, just as Mescal does as Hanno. Mescal and Pascal proudly demonstrate the acting adage and technique—-not a cliche, but an actual acting adage and technique—that less is indeed more.

And, lawdy mamma, do Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger have an acting field day doing the complete opposite of Mescal and Pascal—showing that sometimes, just sometimes, more can indeed be more, playing to the absolute upper and outer limits as the twin deranged psycho lunatic and crazed Roman co-emperors Geta and Caracalla. These two morons and idiots—-clearly indicative and symbolic of Trump and his minions—rule over Rome, somehow, but it’s also clear to every citizen of Rome and possibly the rest of the world that these two jackasses are a thousand sandwiches short of a picnic and have absolutely zero business holding any office at any level. Quinn and Hechinger are a joy to watch, and they also succeed at symbolizing that yes, absolute power does indeed corrupt absolutely. They also clearly and importantly symbolize how crazy, unstable and mentally unbalanced dictatorial lunatic leaders can destroy the very foundations of freedom, democracy, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The only weakness amid the acting ranks is a twitchy, uneasy and awkward Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a deceptive, lying, scheming, slimy and sleazy owner of gladiators who wants nothing more to rule Rome. Macrinus, too, is another jackass—-and he’s just as corrupt, lying, deceitful and psychotic as Geta and Caracalla. However, Washington continually seems out of place and miscast in this role. He just doesn’t fit in. Yes, it’s quite possible to miscast Washington, or anyone else, and Washington is miscast here. It’s amazing that Ridley Scott didn’t cast Malcolm McDowell, Jeremy Irons, Ralph Fiennes or Gary Oldman in this role—any of them would have been perfect, and better, in this role. But “Gladiator II” is a good enough film that one miscast role does not bring down the rest of the proceedings.

The hundreds of talented, creative artisans who worked on the production design and art direction of this film deserve accolades and kudos—-as many of the massive sets, structures, buildings, props and extras were actually real, and actually built and constructed and acted—-instead of lamely relying on a bunch of plastic special effects for sets and people. However, it should be noted that, yes, concurrently, some of the action sequences, of course, were duly enhanced by special, visual, computer and digital effects. But the point needs to be made, and emphasized, that much of what you do see up on the screen in “Gladiator II” is proudly and defiantly real-life, brick-and-mortar real sets and real people. These days, or any days, that’s a major achievement.

“Gladiator II,” to its eternal credit, is many things—political drama; family drama; historical drama; political and cultural allegory and warning; social commentary; action; adventure; suspense; and, enjoyably, loads of intelligent, insightful fun and entertaining pure movie magic, epicness and spectacle. And the film impressively, grandly succeeds in all of these areas.

Are we not entertained? Yes, we are indeed entertained on a most welcome grand and glorious scale.

Go see “Gladiator II” and go see “Gladiator II” in an actual, real movie theater—-where this film, and all films, for that matter, are meant to be seen.

Strength and honor, indeed.

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