“His performance is incredible” Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar for “Gladiator”: Russell Crowe is ashamed of having won the award 24 years ago

News culture “His performance is incredible” Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar for “Gladiator”: Russell Crowe is ashamed of having won the award 24 years ago

Gladiator: The rebirth of the peplum in cinema

The peplum is a very special genre of cinema, fell into disuse due to its generally pharaonic cost. These films, which present an imaginative vision of ancient history or mythology, have long enjoyed great success. Cleopatra, Samson and Delilah, Ben-Hur, Spartacus or Clash of the Titans are just a few examples of dozens of published feature films. However, the peplum became rare in the 70s and almost disappeared in the 90s without counting on Ridley Scott, who for his part was determined to prove that the formula could be modernized with a narrower theme and a production that is as spectacular as ever.

This is how the film was imagined gladiator. The latter tells the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who was particularly valued by the then emperor Marcus Aurelius. Unfortunately, the emperor’s death also meant the end of his career Maximus, betrayed by the emperor’s son, Commodus. Fallen, he is hunted down by his former soldiers and left to die. He is rescued by a slave trader, who treats him and eventually allows him to become a gladiator. Maximus obviously shows great talent and gives everything to be sent to the Colosseum in Rome. where he can try to get revenge. If historical characters are present and certain reconstructions hit the mark, “Gladiator” is pure fiction; the events that take place there ultimately have little historical significance.

But no matter, the film is about one impressive efficiency, thanks largely to its sets, music and first-rate cast. We actually find Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen (who we will find in Galdiator 2), Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi and even Richard Harris (Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter). Enough to support the success of the work grossed over $465 million at the box office for a budget of 102 million.

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Russell Crowe doesn’t budge: Joaquin Phoenix deserves his Oscar

This commercial success was also accompanied by critical success, with no less than 12 Oscar nominations for 5 statuettes : best sound, best costumes, best film, best visual effects and best actor. There are also 5 BAFTAs, 3 Empire Awards, 2 Golden Globes and 3 Satellite Awards. The statuette for best actor went to Russell Crowethe actor who plays Maximus. But 24 years after the film’s release, the actor is still around I was embarrassed to be rewarded more than Joaquin Phoenixwho played the terrible Commodus. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, but was defeated by Benicio Del Toro Traffic.

The last time I saw the film, I was a little embarrassed that I received so many awards for it. (…) My character Maximus may be the driving force of the story, but there is much more. I don’t know why the rest of the world didn’t understand how majestically Joaquin appeared in it. His performance is crazy.