Gladiator (2000)

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R for intense, graphic combat.

David Franzoni, Branko Lustig & Douglas Wick - Producer

Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes & Ridley Scott - Executive Producers

Terry Needham - Associate Producer

(WGA)

David Franzoni – screenplay & story

John Logan & William Nicholson - screenplay

Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt & Lisa Gerrard

John Mathieson

Pietro Scalia

Scott Free Productions | Red Wagon Entertainment

United States

English

Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Atlas Corporation Studios, Ouarzazate, Morocco (studio)

Bourne Woods, Farnham, Surrey, England, UK (Opening battle scenes)

Malta

Ouarzazate, Morocco

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK (studio)

Val d'Orcia, Siena, Tuscany, Italy

ARIA Music Awards

2001 Nominated ARIA Music Award Best Original Soundtrack Album Lisa Gerrard & Hans Zimmer for: "More Music From Gladiator"

ASCAP Awards

2001 Won ASCAP Award Top Box Office Films Hans Zimmer Lisa Gerrard

Academy Awards

2001 Won Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role Russell Crowe

2001 Won Oscar Best Costume Design Janty Yates

2001 Won Oscar Best Effects, Visual Effects John Nelson, Neil Corbould, Tim Burke & Rob Harvey

2001 Won Oscar Best Picture Douglas Wick, David Franzoni & Branko Lustig

2001 Won Oscar Best Sound Scott Millan, Bob Beemer & Ken Weston

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role Joaquin Phoenix

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Arthur Max (art director); Crispian Sallis (set director)

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Director Ridley Scott

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Editing Pietro Scalia

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Music, Original Score Hans Zimmer

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen David Franzoni (screenplay/story); John Logan & William Nicholson (screenplay)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

2006 Nominated Saturn Award Best Classic Film DVD Release

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Costumes Janty Yates

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director Ridley Scott

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Music Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Writing David Franzoni, John Logan & William Nicholson

American Cinema Editors, USA

2001 Won Eddie Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic Pietro Scalia

American Society of Cinematographers Awards, USA

2001 Nominated ASC Award Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases John Mathieson

Art Directors Guild

2001 Won Excellence in Production Design Award Feature Film - Period or Fantasy Films Arthur Max (production designer); John King, David Allday & Benjamín Fernández (supervising art directors); Robson, Clifford, Peter Russell, Keith Pain & Adam O'Neill (art directors); Jose Luis Del Barco & Carlos Bodelón (assistant art directors)

Awards of the Japanese Academy

2001 Nominated Award of the Japanese Academy Best Foreign Film

BAFTA Awards

2001 Won Audience Award

2001 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Editing Pietro Scalia

2001 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Film Douglas Wick, David Franzoni & Branko Lustig

2001 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Production Design Arthur Max

2001 Nominated Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects John Nelson, Tim Burke, Rob Harvey & Neil Corbould

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Costume Design Janty Yates

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Make Up/Hair Paul Engelen & Graham Johnston

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Joaquin Phoenix

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Oliver Reed Posthumously

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Screenplay – Original David Franzoni, John Logan & William Nicholson

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Sound Ken Weston, Scott Millan, Bob Beemer & Per Hallberg

2001 Nominated David Lean Award for Direction Ridley Scott

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

2001 Won Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actor – Action Russell Crowe

2001 Won Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Villain (Internet Only) Joaquin Phoenix

2001 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actor – Action Djimon Hounsou

2001 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actress – Action Nielson, Connie

Bogey Awards, Germany

2000 Won Bogey Award in Silver (UIP (distributor)

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Picture

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Production Design Arthur Max

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Score Hans Zimmer. Also for The Road to El Dorado (2000) and Mission: Impossible II (2000)

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Supporting Actor Joaquin Phoenix. Also for Quills (2000) and The Yards (1999)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Nominated CFCA Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Nominated CFCA Award Best Original Score Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

Cinema Audio Society, USA

2001 Won C.A.S. Award Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film Scott Millan & Bob Beemer (re-recording mixers); Ken Weston (production mixer)

DVD Exclusive Awards

2001 Nominated Video Premiere Award Best DVD Audio Commentary Ridley Scott for: the Signature Selection

2001 Nominated Video Premiere Award Best DVD Overall Original Supplemental Material Mark Atkinson, Charles de Lauzirika & Mark Rowen (producers) for: the Signature Selection

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Won DFWFCA Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

Directors Guild of America, USA

2001 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Ridley Scott

Empire Awards, UK

2001 Won Empire Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

2001 Won Empire Award Best Actress Connie Nielsen

2001 Won Empire Award Best Film

2001 Nominated Empire Award Best British Director Ridley Scott

European Film Awards

2000 Nominated Screen International Award Ridley Scott USA.

Golden Globes, USA

2001 Won Golden Globe Best Motion Picture - Drama

2001 Won Golden Globe Best Original Score - Motion Picture Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

2001 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director - Motion Picture Ridley Scott

2001 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture Joaquin Phoenix

Golden Screen, Germany

2000 Won Golden Screen (UIP (distributor)

Golden Trailer Awards

2001 Won Golden Trailer Best Drama (Kaleidoscope Films) for: the teaser

Grammy Awards

2001 Nominated Grammy Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media Lisa Gerrard & Hans Zimmer

Harry Awards

2001 Nominated Harry Award

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2000 Won Sierra Award Best Costume Design Janty Yates

2000 Won Sierra Award Best DVD

2000 Won Sierra Award Best Editing Pietro Scalia

2000 Won Sierra Award Best Score Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

2000 Won Sierra Award Best Visual Effects unknown

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Director Ridley Scott

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Screenplay, Original David Franzoni, John Logan & William Nicholson

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Supporting Actor Joaquin Phoenix. Also for Quills (2000)

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Supporting Actress Connie Nielsen

London Critics Circle Film Awards

2001 Won ALFS Award Actor of the Year Russell Crowe. Also for The Insider (1999)

2001 Nominated ALFS Award British Director of the Year Ridley Scott

2001 Nominated ALFS Award Film of the Year

MTV Movie Awards

2001 Won MTV Movie Award Best Movie

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Action Sequence for: the Roman army vs. Germanian horde

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Fight Russell Crowe vs masked opponent and tiger

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Line from a Movie Joaquin Phoenix for: "It vexes me, I am terribly vexed!"

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Villain Joaquin Phoenix

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA

2001 Won Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects & Foley, Domestic Feature Film Per Hallberg (supervising sound editor); Craig S. Jaeger (supervising foley editor); Christopher Assells, Dino Dimuro, Jon Title, Randy Kelley, Dan Hegeman, Richard Dwan Jr., Lou Kleinman, Scott Martin Gershin & Mark P. Stoeckinger (sound editors)

2001 Nominated Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Dialogue & ADR, Domestic Feature Film Per Hallberg (supervising sound editor); Chris Jargo (supervising adr editor); Laura Graham (adr editor); David A. Cohen (adr editor/dialogue editor); Lauren Stephens, Simon Coke & Lou Kleinman (dialogue editors)

2001 Nominated Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Music (Foreign & Domestic) unknown

National Board of Review, USA

2000 Won NBR Award Best Production Design/Art Direction Arthur Max (production designer); Peter Russell & Keith Pain (art directors); Crispian Sallis, Sonja Klaus, Jille Azis & Elli Griff (set decorators)

2000 Won NBR Award Best Supporting Actor Joaquin Phoenix. Also for Quills (2000) and The Yards (1999)

Nikkan Sports Film Awards

2000 Won Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Foreign Film

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best DVD

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best DVD Commentary

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best Film Editing Pietro Scalia

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best Original Score Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard & Klaus Badelt

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best Supporting Actor Joaquin Phoenix

PGA Awards

2001 Won Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Douglas Wick & Branko Lustig

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2001 Nominated PFCS Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role Joaquin Phoenix

2001 Nominated PFCS Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Nominated PFCS Award Best Costume Design Janty Yates

2001 Nominated PFCS Award Best Visual Effects John Nelson

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

2000 Won SDFCS Award Best Actor Russell Crowe

2000 Won SDFCS Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

Satellite Awards

2005 Nominated Satellite Award Outstanding Classic DVD (Extended Edition)

2001 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Cinematography John Mathieson

2001 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Original Score Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

2001 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Visual Effects John Nelson

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Art Direction Keith Pain

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Costume Design Janty Yates

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Director Ridley Scott

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Film Editing Pietro Scalia

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Motion Picture, Drama

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama Joaquin Phoenix

Screen Actors Guild Awards

2001 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Russell Crowe

2001 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Joaquin Phoenix

2001 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture Russell Crowe, Richard Harris, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed & Oliver Reed's nomination was posthumously

World Stunt Awards

2001 Won Taurus Award Best Fight Stuart Clark & Sven-Ole Thorsen

2001 Won Taurus Award Best Work with an Animal Randy Miller, Sven-Ole Thorsen & Stuart Clark

Young Artist Awards

2001 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor Spencer Treat Clark

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Hot off filming The Insider (1999), Russell Crowe lost forty pounds and built up his muscles to play thinking women's sex object Maximus, the Roman general turned gladiator, in Gladiator, Hollywood's first true Roman epic in over three decades.

Exiled when his mentor, Caesar Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), dies and is succeeded by his power-hungry son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), Maximus, now in exile, trains as a gladiator and swears his revenge - understandable when you consider that Commodus not only kicked Maximus out of the bosom of Rome and tried to kill him, but also had his family murdered.

As you would expect from director Ridley Scott, the movie is epic not only in scale but also in imagery, as the majesty that was Rome is re-created superbly on screen (much praise is due here to Scott's cinematographer, John Mathleson). But Scott doesn't lose sight of the human side of the story amid the computer trickery, brilliantly staged battle sequences, and spectacular sets, delivering a fascinating, grisly, and heroic tale. With skilled actors, most notably Crowe, a wonderfully preening Phoenix and, in his final role, Oliver Reed, who sadly died during filming - his remaining scenes were generated using stand-in and computer-enhances filmwork.

Oliver Reed suffered a fatal heart attack during principal photography. Some of his sequences had to be re-edited and a double, photographed in the shadows and with a 3D CGI mask of Reed's face, was used as a stand-in. The film is dedicated to his memory.

The wounds on Russell Crowe's face after the opening battle scene are real, caused when his horse startled and backed him into tree branches. The stitches in his cheek are visible when he is telling Commodus he intends to return home.

Over the course of the gladiatorial scenes, Russell Crowe broke bones in his foot and his hip, and injured both bicep tendons.

Many of the animals featured were loaned to the production from the zoo in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, as a way of getting round the country's strict animal importation rules.

During filming Russell Crowe became friends with Richard Harris. However, it was the opposite with Oliver Reed who took an instant dislike to Crowe and at one point challenged him to a fight.

Gracchus: I don't pretend to be a man of the people. But I do try to be a man for the people.

Maximus: You don't find it hard to do your duty?
Cicero: Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to.

Commodus: Your Emperor asks for your loyalty, Maximus. Take my hand, I only offer it once.

Lucilla: Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.

Maximus: I knew a man once who said, "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back."

Maximus: What we do in life echoes in eternity.

Tigris: We who are about to die, salute you!

During the Rome vs. Carthage battle, a chariot slides sideways and hits a wall. A blanket lifts up just before it hits, revealing a large tank and some pipe fittings on the back of the chariot.

The morning after the battle, when Maximus is patting his horse, a crew member in blue jeans walks backwards through the space underneath the horse's head and neck.

At the end of the second battle in Zucchabar, Maximus throws his sword. The next shot shows Maximus and his fallen competitors as he taunts the crowd. A crew man, in blue jeans and white T-shirt, and a camera are visible on the left side of the screen, in the first row.

In the Roma-Carthage battle reenactment, when one of the archers is cut in two by a chariot's wheel blade, a crew member can be seen kneeling in the chariot.

A lunge whip is visible when Maximus' horse falls on the ride home.

As the gladiators head for the entrance of the Coliseum floor to re-enact the Battle of Carthage, the shadow of the boom microphone is visible on the right of the screen during the shot showing Maximus heading for the Coliseum entrance.

During the fight with the tigers, one of them leaps onto Maximus' back. As he falls down to the ground, the tiger is now on top of a tiger-handler dressed as a gladiator, holding up a big piece of meat for the tiger to eat.

Brawny, he-man spectacle combined with a surprisingly solid story and buttressed by excellent performances. Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide.

It employs depression as a substitute for personality, and believes that if the characters are bitter and morose enough, we won't notice how dull they are. Reviewed by: Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times.

Friends, Washingtonians, countrymen, I come not to praise Gladiator but to bury it. Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post.

Glorious, a colossus of rousing action and ferocious fun. Reviewed by: Peter Travers of Rolling Stone.

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