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Movie Review: 'Gladiator II,' with Denzel Washington, goes back into the arena

Published

1 day ago

November 11, 2024

Movie Review: 'Gladiator II,' with Denzel Washington, goes back into the arena

Rome teeters on the brink in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Its fall is said to be imminent. The dream it once symbolized is dead. The once high-minded ideals of the Roman Empire have deteriorated across a venal land now ruled by a pale-faced emperor.

On the throne is Geta (Joseph Quinn), who sits alongside his sniveling brother, Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). The heart of this Rome, of course, is the Coliseum, where throngs cheer for the gladiators who fight and die. There, the ageless Scott remains remarkably at home. The arena, with its eruptions of spectacle and violence, is a stand in for the director’s own vision of the big screen: Go big or go home.

This dichotomy — a fallen society and its insatiable need for entertainment — is the clever and not altogether flattering backdrop of the “Gladiator” films. Part two, set 20 years after the events of the first movie, brings a new combatant to the Coliseum — a mysterious outsider named Lucius Verus, played by Paul Mescal. And to answer the inevitable question, yes. Yes, I was quite entertained.

Connie Nielsen and Joseph Quinn. (Paramount Pictures via AP)

Paul Mescal, (Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures via AP)

“Gladiator II” isn’t quite the prestige film the first one, a best-picture winner, was in 2001. It’s more a swaggering, sword-and-sandal epic that prizes the need to entertain above all else. No one in “Gladiator II” understands that more than Denzel Washington. His performance as the Machiavellian power broker Macrinus is a delicious blur of robes and grins – so compellingly over-the-top that he nearly reaches 1990s Al Pacino standards.

Inside this Rome are scattered interests in toppling it, including Marcus Acacius, a decorated general who has just returned from a successful campaign taking Numidia in northwest Africa. (That siege makes the movie’s blistering opening, with an armada racing at almost NASCAR speed toward the walled city, with towers on the bows of the boats to scale the parapets.)

Denzel Washington. (Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures via AP)

Acacius is a loyal Roman but, when he learns that the emperors have only more bloodlust for further territory and more war, he and his wife, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) begin plotting to overthrow the brothers.

In a movie where everyone nurtures some secret, few stay hidden long. Foremost among them is Lucius Verus, a warrior in Numidia who’s taken prisoner and forced to fight as a gladiator. He’s the son of Lucilla and Maximus (Crowe in “Gladiator”). Following the events of that film, Lucilla sent him, an heir to the empire, to Numidia to grow up outside of the empire’s power struggles.

Mescal, the terrific Irish actor of “Aftersun” and “All of Us Strangers,” smoothly steps into a blockbuster arena for the first time. “This one is interesting,” says Macrinus, eyeing him for the first time. Mescal’s Lucius is vengeful — the Roman army kills his warrior wife in the Numidia battle. “Rage pours out of you like milk,” Macrinus says, admiringly. The glint of mischief in Mescal’s eyes gives Lucius a little more character than your average revenge-seeking gladiator.

Pedro Pascal. (Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures via AP)

Lior Raz. (Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures via AP)

We watch as Lucius cunningly survives arena after arena. Meanwhile, Macrinus manipulates him to steer the public’s routing interest away from the emperor. It’s a rich if slightly cartoonish tapestry of palace intrigue, with Macrinus deftly pulling all the strings.

But, really, none of the power machinations are as compelling as the increasingly carnivalesque scenes of the Coliseum. In the gladiators’ first trip there, they’re greeted by man-eating monkeys. Next, it’s a rider atop a giant, charging rhinoceros. Then, the piece de resistance: a flooded Coliseum festering with sharks. There are even little mock islands with palm trees spread about.

Now, “Gladiator II” may not stand up to much inquiry from historians. (Some issues were also taken with Scott’s last historical epic, “Napoleon,” which likewise was scripted by David Scarpa). But this is not a movie built for accuracy. It’s made for taking a few bits of history and inflating them into a feast and the charms of watching Washington’s Macrinus brandish a head recently relieved of its body.

Yes, heads do roll in Scott’s “Gladiator” sequel. Macrinus succeeds in whipping Rome into a frenzy. In fact, he does it so easily and guilefully that, once things begin unraveling for him, the air leaves “Gladiator II.” You don’t quite believe his recklessness after he so patiently and artfully turned the screws.

Nevertheless, two possible successors emerge – Lucius, who has a birthright to the throne, and Macrinus, who comes to within its grasp purely by his own wit. Is it any wonder that I was rooting for Macrinus, all the way? How could you not, with Washington chewing scenery like this and making zestful (and rather apt) pronouncements like: “That, my friend, is politics!”

“Gladiator II,” a Paramount Pictures release. is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong bloody violence.” Running time: 148 minutes. Three stars out of four.

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Washington

Two Former Washington Nationals First Round Picks Opt To Become Free Agents

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Press Room

Two Former Washington Nationals First Round Picks Opt To Become Free Agents

There is plenty of young talent within this Washington Nationals organization that should give hope for how things will look in the upcoming years.

After trading away Juan Soto in a difficult decision at the 2022 trade deadline, it looks like that deal was a home run for them with almost all of their returning pieces looking like they could become franchise cornerstones.

Beyond that, there are others in the pipeline who seem to have bright futures as well, and based on how general manager Mike Rizzo has operated recently, they will get a chance to prove they can be part of this team going forward during the upcoming 2025 season.

However, two of the Nationals past first-round picks are no longer with the team.

According to Mark Zuckerman of MASN, Carter Kieboom and Mason Denaburg have elected to become free agents, ending their tenure within Washington’s organization.

Kieboom was taken 28th overall in the 2016 draft, and early on in his career, he was thought to be their third baseman of the future.

But things didn’t quite work out that way.

He could never get things going at the plate, slashing .199/.297/.301 with 12 homers, 42 RBI and an OPS+ of 65 across his 133 Major League games from 2019-23. The Tommy John surgery he underwent that caused him to miss the entire 2022 campaign didn’t help him either.

At 27 years old, Kieboom will look for his next opportunity elsewhere, hoping he can resurrect his career and live up to the first-round projection he had almost a decade ago.

As for Denaburg, he never came close to reaching the MLB.

Despite being taken 27th overall in 2018, the right-handed pitcher hasn’t even made it to Double-A at any point of his career, having been snake bitten by injuries and poor play throughout.

While the Nationals are certainly brimming with young talent at this stage of their rebuild, the departures of Kieboom and Denaburg this offseason are reminders of how poor they have been at drafting players in the first round over the years.

Hopefully that will come to an end as the front office looks to supplement their pipeline while their star prospects get called up to The Show.

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Washington

Where do the Washington Commanders Rank in the NFL After Week 10?

Published

10 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Press Room

Where do the Washington Commanders Rank in the NFL After Week 10?

The Washington Commanders entered their Week 10 matchup as a dark horse Super Bowl-contending squad. They added four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline, though he was dealing with a hamstring that delayed his debut with the team.

With a matchup against another dark horse Super Bowl contender and one of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Commanders were able to put 27 points on the board, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered a 28-27 loss.

Bleacher Report released their Week 11 power rankings roundtable from their expert analysts, and the Commanders stood pat ranked No. 7 in the NFL.

“Week 10 was a litmus test for the Washington Commanders—a matchup with one of the AFC’s hottest teams in the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of a critical NFC East showdown with the rival Eagles in Week 11,” Bleacher Report wrote. “The 27 points Washington scored were fine, but the Commanders logged fewer than 250 yards of offense and Jayden Daniels completed just half of his 34 pass attempts for 202 yards without a touchdown.”

To this point in his young career, data certainly suggests Jayden Daniels will bounce back from his performance. The rookie quarterback was definitely humanized in the loss — as the Steelers’ pressure was too much for him and proved he’s capable of being stopped. However, the LSU product also got a look at a great defense, and hitting the film room can help him prepare for the way the next team will pressure him.

The fact that Washington still nearly came away with a victory proves that they’re a very capable contender this season and are a well-rounded team. It’d be much easier to judge their loss had they had Lattimore or star running back Brian Robinson Jr. healthy.

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

Follow Kade on Twitter.

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Washington

Domestic assault report leads to discovery of cache of weapons; suspect sought

Published

18 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Press Room

Domestic assault report leads to discovery of cache of weapons; suspect sought

A domestic assault report led the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to discover a cache of weapons last week, and authorities continue searching for the suspect.

Officers responded to the domestic assault report at 9:23 p.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Goddard Road in Lexington Park. The suspect, 39-year-old Jerod Adam Taylor, left the scene before law enforcement arrived.

During the investigation, officers learned Taylor reportedly possessed multiple firearms, which were found in plain view in the residence, despite him being legally prohibited from owning them due to previous convictions. Taylor also is wanted on an outstanding warrant for theft.

Detectives executed search warrants for the residence and nearby vehicles Friday and found an “extensive” collection of more than 80 weapons, according to the sheriff’s office.

Items law enforcement recovered included multiple 3D-printed “ghost guns” without serial numbers, semi-automatic rifles, handguns, shotguns, an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, 1,300 rounds of ammunition and an assortment of firearm components.

Taylor faces more than 10 charges, including second-degree assault and illegal possession of a regulated firearm.

Taylor should be considered armed and dangerous, and law enforcement urges anyone who spots him to not approach and immediately call 911, the sheriff’s office said.

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