Gladiator (2000)
After watching a clip from the gladiatorial reenactment of the Battle of Carthage in class, I decided it was time to finally watch “Gladiator,” an Academy Award winning film featuring Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. “Gladiator” tells the story of Maximus a former Roman general who is forced into slavery and eventually the gladiatorial arena due to the hostile takeover of a new emperor.
“Gladiator” opens with Maximus winning an important battle against the Gauls under the command of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius is rapidly approaching death and decides that instead of his son Commodus, who he believes to be unworthy, he will appoint Maximus to succeed him. Commodus, hearing this, kills his father and demands fealty from Maximus. When Maximus refuses, Commidus tries to kill Maximus and successfully kills and crucifies his wife and young son. Maximus, injured by the attempt on his life, is captured by slavers and then sold to a gladiatorial training school run by Proximo, a former Roman gladiator. Maximus is made to fight in a variety of low level gladiatorial fights and wins gaining notoriety. Commodus, now emperor, after struggling with the daily life of leading Rome and dealing with the senate decides to organize a series of games. Maximus due to his notoriety is brought to Rome to fight in these games. Maximus is able to win multiple fights that are massively stacked against him and eventually announces himself with his real name and promises to get revenge. Commodus is aghast but the crowd has fallen in love with Maximus and he cannot kill him. Maximus begins to plan a rebellion with the help of Commodus’s sister Lucilla and a senator. The plan is found out by Commodus and he quickly kills the allies of Maximus. Then, even after destroying the conspiracy, in order to prove himself to the people, Commodus challenges Maximus to a gladiatorial fight but not before stabbing him. Even with this injury Maximus defeats and kills Commodus, and Commodus’s guards are unwilling to save him. Maximus then collapses from his injuries and he’s honored with a proper burial.
Watching this movie in the context of our class was interesting because it is set after the downfall of the republic. Even though it is not historically accurate in any way, it shows the continuation of the resolve of the Roman people and their attachment to values similar to those of the Republican period. This is demonstrated by the fact that even as emperor, Commodus feels it necessary to repeatedly prove his auctoritas to both the people and the senate. This necessity for honor even by the Emperor demonstrates that these Roman values and accountability to the people still exists.
