Death, smiling at all of Us

You know, I think both me and Adrian will probably be asking a question of director, Ridley Scott.

“What is it, with the white gee-gees?”

No, I’m serious, here …

I’m mean, “Bladerunner” has a complicated dream sequence with a white unicorn, “Legend” has white unicorns at the centre of the tale, and “Hannibal” having a search sequence with Hannibal on a white horse … on a merry-go-round …

It wouldn’t surprise me if he tried working one into the “1984” ad …

At any rate, there are tons of white horses in the film Adrian and I watched, tonight, the 2000 film, “Gladiators”.

Which still looks as good as the first time I saw it; I know Adrian was saying the same thing.

The Ridley Scott directed “Gladiator” sees Russell Crowe, as Maximus, determined to avenge the murder of his wife and child by Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Which puts this as a good ol’ fashioned revenge drama.

And possibly one of Scott’s best works, although I personally prefer “Alien”.

But “Gladiator” is one of his more mature works, I know that. And it shows, I think, being a very tight hand on the pace, scripting and acting.

And editing.

I mean, it’s not that often one of the headline actors dies during filming, is it?

Hmmm …

What can one say, here, about the late Oliver Reed?

Possibly lots, although I don’t know if this is the place for that.

I do know that the mix of a riveting last performance from the late actor, the stand-up performances by the rest of the cast, plus the job and and half Ridley Scott and his production crew put in to salvage it, after Reed’s death, makes “Gladiator”, at ten years old, still a very good film to watch.

What did concern both of us, tonight, though was good old fashioned historical accuracy.

I’m not as bothered as Adrian, about this. I would have been more concerned if this had been the film of the book; then you’d be reading a list of complaints!

But it would be nice to know which bits were accurate, and which weren’t.

Actually, I will be fair, here, there was a rider at the end of the credits, to the effect that, whilst the story was fictional, the history was as accurate as they could get it for a movie.

I’m thinking, there, that you can’t say much fairer than that. And also that — as far as a historical film is concerned — we, as an audience, have to keep that thought very much in mind.

That — to quote the tagline from the Wes Craven original of “The Hills Have Eyes” — it’s only a movie.

Taking it as history, rather than entertainment, would be silly!

But it does leave thinking I could look up Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, on Wikipedia …