Ridley Scott’s 2000 Roman Empire swords and sandals epic Gladiator netted five Academy Awards including best picture and best actor for the then mostly untested Russell Crowe. For years Scott has been attempting a sequel, but rights issues and multiple rejected script ideas (including ones from Russell Crowe and Nick Cave) left the project in limbo. In 2024 Gladiator II finally hits cinema screens. Was it worth the wait to return to the Colosseum? Well, that depends on how much nostalgia mining is tolerable.
Paul Mescal is Lucius Versus, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Maximus (Russell Crowe) who was sent to safety outside of Rome despite being the next in line to be Emperor and having a friendly senate run by Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) and the protection of Maximus’ army. He lives under a new name with his wife Arishat (Yuval Gonen) in Numidia in Northern Africa. Rome is still fighting wars conquering as much territory as it can under the degenerate and despotic regime of twin Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
Skilled General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) is the emperors’ war machine and has been sent to finally take Numidia by sea invasion after numerous skirmishes. Big battles are later era Ridley Scott’s favourite indulgence (along with proclaiming ‘History be damned’) and the taking of Numidia is one of the film’s highlights. Numidia is conquered and Lucius and his mentor, Jugurtha (Peter Mensah) taken as slaves. Lucius watched as Acacius ordered the shooting of his wife and in the melee was thrown into the sea. Arishat promises to wait for him as she is ferried to the afterlife. Already a man tormented by loss at the hands of Rome, he is now an instrument of vengeance.
In Ostia Acacius is given a hero’s welcome. For the glory of Rome, for the glory of the Gods (Geta and Caracalla believing themselves Gods in the style of Caligula), for the glory of Rome’s failing purse. Acacius hopes to be able to spend time with his wife, Lucilla before being sent to conquer India, but Geta reminds him that it is only his duties as a general keeping their Aunt Lucilla safe. The ‘Dream of Rome’ as imagined by her father Marcus Aurelius is gone and what remains is corruption and poverty for the people of the empire.
The two ghouls run with the maxim panem et circenses although the bread is no longer essential for the people. The circuses – the Gladiatorial competitions at the Colosseum are and they are eager to celebrate their victories in violent spectacles. Aided by amenable senators such as profligate gambler Thraex (Tim McInnery) and Praetorian Guard leader Tegula (Rory McCann) plus the mass killings of anyone the emperors consider disloyal; the born mad and in Caracalla’s case, made madder by syphilis, tyrants oversee a Rome which should be burned to the ground.
Burning Rome to the ground and remaking it is the plan of former slave now wealthy empresario, Macrinus (Denzel Washington) who buys Lucius after seeing his untrammelled fury in a trial involving baboons (including one which does not exist and has never existed anywhere in nature). Lucius rips into the flesh of the baboon with his own teeth, his animal instinct for vengeance let fully loose as one of them slaughters his last link with his chosen home, Jugurtha. Macrinus promises Lucius (still using a pseudonym) that he will have the opportunity to fight Acacius but only in the arena. If Lucius is his Gladitorial instrument, then Macrinus will give him what he wants. There is one thing he should not forget; he is owned until Macrinus decides otherwise.
David Scarpa’s screenplay is overstuffed (Scarpa working on a story by Peter Craig and himself, both pulling from characters created by David Franzoni). There are two films happening at the same time. One is almost a repeat of the original but with Paul Mescal attempting to fill Russell Crowe’s sandals. The other is a political thriller where Macrinus plots and schemes his way into power easily pushing aside the fattened idiots in his way. “Politics follows power,” says Thraex when asked if he will support a military coup against the unpopular twins. Misattributed quotes to Cicero and grand proclamations come up empty against that simple line.
Even Lucius’ eventual understanding of his responsibility to Rome as the reconciled son of Lucilla who has stayed along with her ally Gracchus (a particularly nothing part for the great Derek Jacobi) buoyed by his relationship with former Gladiator and now medicine man Ravi (Alexander Karim) is relatively shallow. Gladiator II insists on replaying the first film, not only through the ‘Scott Free’ styled animation recapping the film at the beginning, but through flashbacks where we Lucilla hears Maximus telling her Lucius is safe. Further to that, there is the fridged wife, the quest for vengeance, the near impervious to enemy attacks, and the grabbing of the Colosseum dirt Lucius replicates. Maximus hangs over the film to a tiring extent because it is a reminder that although Paul Mescal is a decent actor, he doesn’t have the gravitas of Crowe.
The other film, the better film, is Macrinus’ ascent. Denzel Washington is fascinating as the villain whose quest for power is both monomaniacal and if not supportable, at least understandable. Washington’s line readings remind the audience that he can (and has) played dangerously charming villains with immense flair. Whenever the camera is not on him the film grinds to a halt, which unfortunately includes the elaborate Colosseum fight scenes which are either shot and edited in a “fix it in post” aesthetic or are reliant on ridiculous levels of CGI.
Scott’s biggest error is cleaving to Gladiator with thematic fidelity. Matt Lucas simply steps in for David Hemmings. Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal are paper cut out versions of Russell Crowe’s Maximus but neither have the impact of the character. Peter Mensah and Alexander Karim are stand-ins for Djimon Hounsou’s Juba, but neither of them have enough screentime to be truly memorable. The twin Emperors are watered down versions of Joaquin Phoenix’s despicable Commodus. Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla as more to do, but still exists to suffer. The only character who can be seen as original is Macrinus, and without Washington the whole film would collapse in on itself as a highlight reel of the better tale of Maximus Decimus Meridius. So, thank whatever gods you do or don’t pray to for the inclusion of Macrinus and Denzel Washington, because despite Mescal, Pascal, Hechinger, Quinn, Nielsen, and McInnery doing their best with what they’re given – what they’re given isn’t enough.
Ridley Scott’s films are now such a mixed bag that going into each one is a gamble. He might be able to pull off a The Last Duel but he’s more likely to pull off a Napoleon. Although Gladiator II is not offensively awful dreck à la Exodus: Gods and Kings (simply an embarrassment for all involved), it is at best engaging folly. The folly being that Scott, after making some of the best films of the twentieth century, still hasn’t worked out how to get out of his own way. Maximus asked, “Are you not entertained?” in Gladiator in 2000. The answer to the question if Lucius were to ask in 2024 of Gladiator II would be “intermittently.”
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen
Writer: David Scarpa, (Story by Peter Craig, David Scarpa based on characters created by David Franzoni)
