129 - Gladiator

Are you not entertained?! Well, the audiences of 2000 certainly were, with a box office smash hit and winner of 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, I think ole Russel come be comforted he won't be eating Crowe with this film by one Sir Ridley Scott. But, 24 years later and with an upcoming sequel on the horizon, the Mixed Bag crew thought they should dust off the dirt like Maximus loves to do and see if we are glad to set our eyes upon Gladiator (2000). In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army’s most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus’ devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Is the young Richard Harris a hottie? Is Oliver Reed playing a POC or just suuuuper tan? And will Maximus Decimus Meridius have his vengeance, in this life or the next? All this and more as well in this two-part miniseries in our gear up for Glicked!