Hollywood doesn’t often take 24 years to make a sequel. If a film is profitable, the industry wants to make more money as quickly as it can. Good reviews usually assist this process. The first Best Picture Oscar winner of the 21st century, Gladiator, definitely qualifies as both commercially and critically successful. And its potential for a sequel didn’t seem obvious but now we have one, with the sequel being a good continuation of the first film, mostly thanks to the excellent cast.
This film begins with titles that feature animated graphics of events from the first film. This is a good choice, as it engages fans of the first film like me and provides background if you haven’t seen the first film. Maximus’ (Russell Crowe) journey of revenge against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the evil son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, is thrilling moviemaking. This sequence shows respect for the original film.
So how do you carry on a story that ends with the death of the hero? Gladiator II answers that question by focusing on Maximus’ legacy and how his presence influences others at another important time. The story is good but the production values and acting are even better.
“Where you are, I am too.”
Gladiator revealed that Maximus had a romantic history with Aurelius’ daughter Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). I expected Lucilla to tell Maximus that her son Lucius was also his son. That didn’t happen but it was only delayed gratification because this sequel DOES deliver that plot turn. Taking place 16 years after the first film, Lucius is now an adult played by Paul Mescal. The film nicely draws parallels between father and son. Lucius is introduced picking up grains of wheat, while the opening shot of the first film was Maximus’ hand caressing stalks of wheat.
The similarities don’t stop there. Just like Maximus, Lucius is a natural leader. When the Roman Army comes to conquer the province where they live, Lucius loses his wife, too. And being forced to become a gladiator allows Lucius to change Rome for the better, just like his father. Besides that, the references to Gladiator like lines of dialogue or the same music during the finale hit me hard in the feels because they play up how these two films illustrate how cyclical life can be.
However, I occasionally wanted an emotional beat to be different in some way. At first, Lucius is angry with his mother for sending him away as a child to protect him. This is understandable because after Maximus killed Commodus, who else would be a threat to Lucius? That is too vague. But eventually, I was glad when Lucius’ feelings evolved and he embraced his mother again. I also have to say the amount of character deaths in the final act felt overwhelming, and that risks blunting their impact.
“I will make you my instrument.”
Besides that, this story is crowded with villains. Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) are cast from the same unhinged mold as Commodus. Quinn and Hechinger are talented so we sense that they are dangerous even though their characters don’t hold the public’s affection. Macrinus (which ironically is pronounced like Maximus) is a different story. He is a genuinely interesting bad guy and Washington is incredible. That’s no surprise coming from such a veteran actor with so many awards to his name but it’s worth saying anyway.
Mescal also turns in good work here. A lead role like Lucius, heroic and very physical, can’t be easy but Mescal makes a strong impression. He also has a couple of those “speechifying” moments that can so easily go wrong and they work too. Mescal is sure to have a long and successful career if this film is any indication. Add Pedro Pascal and Nielsen to all this and you have a cast that really is an embarrassment of riches.
The other thing this film has going for it is director Ridley Scott. The legendary filmmaker has focused on these big-budget historical epics lately, with no signs of slowing down or resting on his laurels. He really goes all in for the action sequences. And they involve freaky-looking CGI monkeys and sharks in the Coliseum, so no one will forget them any time soon. Scott also makes the smart decision to bring back artists behind the scenes like cinematographer John Mathieson and costume designer Janty Yates from the original film. That does a lot to help Gladiator II justify its existence and proves Lucius’ story is one worth telling.
4 stars out of 5
Gladiator II is in theaters now.
