A wickedly epic spectacle only Ridley Scott could bring to life (again). Gladiator II is exactly the kind of film that demands to be seen on the largest of screens with a crowd, just as if you’re in the Colosseum. One of the few films that adequately uses its large ensemble giving them each something to do, however, the film belongs to Denzel Washington’s deliciously evil, fun performance. 

Over the last few years, we’ve gotten legacy sequel after legacy sequel, but Gladiator II is different in that the original director, Ridley Scott, is back at the helm for the next go-round. As someone who was not exactly excited for another legacy sequel, being so drawn into the world Scott and his impeccable team have created again was not something I expected. It’s impossible to not be, well, entertained while experiencing Gladiator II. Throughout the film Paul Mescal’s Lucius whispers of a dream Rome and it’s impossible not feel transported to this Rome he speaks of. At first glance, you’re in the idea of Rome, the glitz, the glamour, and the large scale there’s been stories about. But then you see the real Rome, full of grime, blood, and mistreatment of the population at large. Pulling this off is not just due the mastery of Scott but the entire team from production design to costume design to the actors lending the viewpoint from their characters. It’s no small feat to portray such different sides of the coin for such a large city through its most legendary state we’re all familiar with. 

The story of the film is one of courage, rage, and love that is all communicated through Lucius (Mescal). The opening scene of Gladiator II sets the stakes as we’re immediately thrown into battle with General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) leads his troops to taking one of the last unoccupied cities. After a brutal battle, you get a glimpse of Acacius not fully being invested in the battle. While this is all communicated through Pascal’s body language, the story with him is clearly not as it seems. The boats take the prisoners of war back to Rome and we soon see Lucius purchased to be molded and trained for the games in the Colosseum as a gladiator by Macrinus (Denzel Washington). His first game in the famous arena, Lucius catches the eye of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), the wife of Acacius. While the story is pretty formulaic, the Shakespearean delivery and stakes of it all combined with the delicious performances and beautiful crafts work make the film soar. Scott knows how to make a blockbuster that is both moving and entertaining and Gladiator II is one of his best films to date. Following each of these characters is impeccably fun while still emotionally hitting the marks. Scott is such a master of never losing his storytelling within these large-scale sets and worlds he impeccably builds. 

Gladiator II is the rare film that delivers on an all-star ensemble; every member of the cast has something to do, a moment to be had all while the story connects them to one another organically. There may be some script issues but connecting all of these powerful actors and characters together is not one of them. It’s impossible to talk about Gladiator II without praising Washington. While not the lead of the film, he absolutely devours the material and delivers one of his best performances to date. It’s not just that the role was clearly written to his strengths but is a role that is worthy of him. He’s one of the best actors of all time and to see him having a wickedly, delicious time (in those dresses, those rings) cements his legendary status. Two Oscars is not enough for Washington and if he got his third for this, it would be one of the best wins of the year. His commanding presence is magical, you miss him any time he’s offscreen. He has chemistry with not just every actor in the film but the camera itself. Even if he’s not the center of a shot, your eye is drawn to him as he’s scheming and plotting in the background. Mescal feels like an action hero naturally. While many will just compare Mescal’s performance as Lucius to Russell Crowe’s performance in the first film, they shouldn’t as Lucius has his own motivations no matter how similar the story structuring is. The rage carried through Mescal’s eyes is palpable and so incredibly effective as you know the visceral pain Lucius is carrying. It’s so special to see such a sensitive actor take on such an action driven role and maintain that sensitivity within to effectively bring a well-developed character to life. Pascal is deeply sympathetic and delivers a sweeping performance as he balances the masculinity associated with generals of war and the emotional sensitivity between his onscreen wife, Nielsen, and Mescal. Pescal has always had a way of carrying beautiful emotion through his eyes and the way he carries himself physically but in Gladiator II he’s allowed to say everything he needs as Acacius through his own physicality. Nielsen’s Lucilla is given much more to do in the sequel compared to the original film and not only is the material quite moving but she’s incredible. There’s something about a woman returning to a character where she wasn’t given enough to do the first time around and being given material matching her performance. Nielsen is a key part of the story unfolding and her performance as Lucilla beautifully captures what a mother will do for her child. There’s an emotional depth that’s palpable between Nielsen and Mescal; their scenes together are not just the heart of the film but the soul of the story being told. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are absolutely perfect in their roles as the soulless twin emperors. Quinn is much more diabolical and deliberately evil than his counterpart. You can feel the wheels turning and know what his Geta will do next but it’s both fun and terrifying to watch. Hechinger has such a physical performance as Caracalla that is impossibly to fun to watch with his flickers of darkness slightly brewing between giggles. Hechinger and Quinn are dynamic together with similar body language and truly acting as one while distinctively being so different; their performances truly bring the Scott film to an operatic level.

The craftsmanship throughout Gladiator II is unreal. The rebuilding of Rome, including the Colosseum, cannot be praised enough. In interviews, Washington has described feeling transported back in time when he arrived on set each day and it’s easy to see why. Despite the scaling necessary for filming, production designer Arthur Max delivered the grandness associated with the Roman Empire. Perfectly pairing with the lavish production design are the costumes from Janty Yates and David Crossman. From the impeccable gowns (on Nielsen and Washington) and thigh baring gladiator skirts, the costume designs are full of such depth that stands out in the film. The rich details from the luxury of those attempting to run Rome to grime and blood on those trying to survive elevate each character’s story throughout Gladiator II. While the visual effects are not perfect, specifically on the animal design, it’s impossible to not feel overwhelmed by the scale and success of everything done practically. In addition to how much of the film was successfully practically done, the stunt work on display is impeccable. The choreography of the large-scale fights is seamless while being so drastic in size and complexity. In addition to the larger fight sequences, the one-on-one fights either with swords or hand to hand are stunning to watch. The dedication from the actors and stunt team is mesmerizing within the scale and world of Gladiator II.

Gladiator II is a wickedly epic spectacle only Ridley Scott could bring to life (again). It’s exactly the kind of film that demands to be seen on the largest of screens with a crowd, just as if you’re in the Colosseum. While the story may be underwhelming to some, it’s a successful blockbuster combining heart with action and is one of the few films that adequately uses its large ensemble giving them each something to do. It’s impossible to not be entertained with the must see film of the holiday season. 

Grade: B+

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: Best Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington), Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects
Should be Considered: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Lead Actor (Paul Mescal), Best Supporting Actress (Connie Nielsen), Best Film Editing

Release Date: November 22, 2024
Where to Watch: In Theaters