- Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou
- November 15th 2024
- 148
- Ridley Scott
Paul Mescal takes over from Russell Crowe as the titular gladiator in Ridley Scott’s long-awaited historical epic.
Twenty-four years after Ridley Scott’s swords-and-sandals epic Gladiator, it’s time to head back to Ancient Rome for a sequel.
Set 16 years after the events of Gladiator, the Roman Empire is now ruled by corrupt twins Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Carcella (Fred Hechinger).
The story is told through the eyes of Lucius (Paul Mescal) – who was played by Spencer Treat Clark as a child in the original – who has lived in Africa since being sent away from Rome for his protection by his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).
After his home falls in a battle with the Roman Army, led by Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), Lucius and other prisoners-of-war are made slaves. He is bought by power player Macrinus (Denzel Washington) and turned into a gladiator, who must fight for his life in the Colosseum just like his father Maximus (Russell Crowe).
Nobody can do epic action-packed spectacles quite like Scott. Gladiator II is very impressive to look at and filled with grand practical sets, huge action sequences, exciting gladiator fights and hundreds and hundreds of background players.
However, it is let down by patchy dialogue, underdeveloped characters and a lack of backstory about Lucius or the empire’s new rulers. Additionally, the first half of Lucius’s story follows many of the same beats as Maximus’s – but thankfully, it veers off and becomes its own beast later.
After finding fame with the TV show Normal People and indie dramas such as Aftersun and All of Us Strangers, Mescal makes his blockbuster debut here. Perhaps it’s the script’s fault, but he struggles to carry the film and his subtle acting doesn’t work so well in such a big production. He’s not bad by any means, but he’s not as stellar as he’s been in his previous projects.
In fact, most of his co-stars fail to rise to the occasion except Washington, who is operating on another level to everyone else. He is charismatic, slightly camp and a lot of fun as the sneaky puppet master.
Gladiator II delivers on the action and spectacle but it lacks emotion resonance and doesn’t feel as narratively substantial as the original.
In cinemas from Friday 15th November.
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