Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II hits cinemas this week! This eagerly-awaited film aims to build on the success of the first opus, in which Russell Crowe literally burst onto the screen. This time, it’s Paul Mescal, a renowned Irish actor, who intends to take up the torch, and raze everything in his path… The beginning of the consecration? Perhaps, but…
Movie sequels are always a risk in themselves. Rarely do they perform, or at least do as well as the first. The dangers are everywhere. Risks of repetition, of recycling stories already worn to the bone, or worse still, of being accused of banking on bankable mega-productions, to the detriment of history…
The pitfalls are many, and few manage to avoid them!
Ridley Scott was well aware of all this… But the desire to return to the Colosseum was too strong.
Fortunately, he was right to do so! It would appear that the 87-year-old director has lost none of his talent and enthusiasm. 24 years after the first Gladiator, the director has delivered an excellent film, with an audacious script, breathtaking special effects and a 5-star cast!
The film features Paul Mescal, a rather unassuming Irish actor who has no equal when it comes to shining in unexpected films and series. These include Normal People and The Replacement.
Always fair, involved and touchingly sincere, the actor reveals himself without ever overplaying his hand, showing disarming sensitivity and accuracy. Considered a surprise outsider in the Gladiator 2 project, the actor had his work cut out for him if he was to take over from Russell Crowe.
To do so, he takes on the role of Lucius, now grown up. The unsuspecting son of Maximus, he finds himself back in the arena, fighting for his life and facing political issues that are beyond him. Here’s a synopsis:
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum when his country is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must turn to his past to find the strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to his people.
In the final analysis, Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal have created a peplum as effective as it is impressive. History and special effects combine to perfection to deliver a poignant, engaging film in the vein of the first opus, while at the same time emancipating itself from it.
A feat that sets it apart from other blockbusters of the moment, which tend to privilege spectacle over script. A successful exercise that should undoubtedly propel Irishman Paul Mescal to even greater heights in Hollywood. Once again, the talent of Irish actors shines through!
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