Gladiator

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Single-handedly reviving a long-lost genre -- the "sword-and-sandals epic" -- this exciting action picture boasts top-notch production values, creative and engaged (if occasionally ill-considered) direction from Ridley Scott, and -- at long last -- a star-making performance from Australian actor Russell Crowe. The chief appeal of "Gladiator" is its retro vibe, but some of Scott's artistic choices smack of a shallow attempt to stay modern, such as the hand-held camera and hitching, as well as ultra-focused images in the film's battle sequences, both inspired by Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). The script by David Franzoni, rewritten by John Logan and William Nicholson (some of it during filming), is sometimes scattershot, foregoing character development as it forages too widely in search of sweep, thus providing doses of everything under the Italian sun: revenge, political intrigue, romance, action, and historical background. Though never delivering the emotional power an audience might crave, "Gladiator" is rescued by sharp editing, marvelous design and effects, and superb performances from Crowe, the briefly seen Richard Harris, and the impressively slick, fey, high-camp posturing of the lizard-like Joaquin Phoenix. The mix of traditional costumes and set design with the new development of computer-generated imagery produces some eye-popping visuals, especially the lingering overhead shots of the coliseum in Rome, one of the best uses to date of high-tech special effects. As a summer popcorn picture, "Gladiator" succeeds on most levels and provides some unabashed, old-fashioned entertainment. Similarities were noted by many critics to the earlier epic "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964) from director Anthony Mann, which features many of the same characters. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

• Russell Crowe : Best Actor - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• John Mathieson : Best Cinematography - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Janty Yates : Best Costume Design - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Ridley Scott : Best Director - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Pietro Scalia : Best Editing - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Hans Zimmer : Best Music - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Lisa Gerrard : Best Music - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• David H. Franzoni : Best Original Screenplay - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• William Nicholson : Best Original Screenplay - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• John Logan : Best Original Screenplay - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Arthur Max : Best Production Design - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Oliver Reed : Best Supporting Actor - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Joaquin Phoenix : Best Supporting Actor - British Academy of Film and Televisio, 2000
• Russell Crowe : Best Actor - Broadcast Film Critics Association, 2000
• John Mathieson : Best Cinematography - Broadcast Film Critics Association, 2000
• Hans Zimmer : Best Composer - Broadcast Film Critics Association, 2000
• Arthur Max : Best Production Design - Broadcast Film Critics Association, 2000
• Joaquin Phoenix : Best Supporting Actor - Broadcast Film Critics Association, 2000
• Ridley Scott : Best Director - Directors Guild of America, 2000
• Ridley Scott : Best Director - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 2000
• Hans Zimmer : Best Original Score - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 2000
• Lisa Gerrard : Best Original Score - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 2000
• Russell Crowe : Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 2000
• Joaquin Phoenix : Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 2000
• Arthur Max : Best Production Design - National Board of Review, 2000
• Joaquin Phoenix : Best Supporting Actor - National Board of Review, 2000
• Russell Crowe : Best Actor - Screen Actors Guild, 2000
• Joaquin Phoenix : Best Supporting Actor - Screen Actors Guild, 2000
• Russell Crowe : Best Actor - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Crispian Sallis : Best Art Direction - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Arthur Max : Best Art Direction - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• John Mathieson : Best Cinematography - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Janty Yates : Best Costume Design - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Ridley Scott : Best Director - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Pietro Scalia : Best Editing - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• David H. Franzoni : Best Original Screenplay - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• William Nicholson : Best Original Screenplay - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• John Logan : Best Original Screenplay - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• David H. Franzoni : Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Doug Wick : Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Branko Lustig : Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Hans Zimmer : Best Score - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Ken Weston : Best Sound - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Bob Beemer : Best Sound - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Scott Millan : Best Sound - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Joaquin Phoenix : Best Supporting Actor - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• John Nelson : Best Visual Effects - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Neil Corbould : Best Visual Effects - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Tim Burke : Best Visual Effects - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• Rob Harvey : Best Visual Effects - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 2000
• John Mathieson : Best Cinematography - American Society of Cinematographers, 2000