Ridley Scott is one of Hollywood’s most prolific filmmakers. He has made many classics including; ‘Alien’, ‘Blade Runner’, 'The Duelists' and of course ‘Gladiator’… Ridley Scott ranks among my favourite filmmakers for the way he tells a story. He managers to visually showcase important aspects to a story that many other filmmakers would simply disregard, focusing heavily on the smaller details. He is a character-driven filmmaker as well, which I admire. ‘Gladiator’ is one of the best films ever made for many reasons. The technical achievements in the direction by Ridley Scott is one of the most notable. The film is technically flawless. The sweeping shots of the battle sequences are stunning. The grit of these sequences really stands out throwing the audience into the battle and the way that the film showcases these scenes is a testament to how talented Scott is as a director. The performances are iconic as well, with Russell Crowe winning the Oscar for best actor in a lead role for his performance as ‘Maximus’. In my opinion, Crowe has never been better, showcasing the tenacity, heartbreak and leadership of a true warrior. He is nuanced when he needs to be but controls the scene as well when the story commands him to. He is truly fantastic. Joaquin Phoenix is also in the film delivering a great villainous turn (pre-Joker of course) as ‘Commodus’ and I thought he was also terrific in the film. You hate him throughout the entire film and that is how a good villain is supposed to make you feel. The Hans Zimmer score is amazing as well, feeling epic with every instrumental beat, ranking among some of his best work. The character of Maximus is also one of my favourites. He is a man who has lost everything and is on a path of revenge, avenging those who he has lost and making those responsible pay. It is a simple character arc, yet the way Scott decides to tell this story is beautiful and memorable, with many iconic sequences and dialogue. Who could forget "are you not entertained". Still to this day, those lines give me goosebumps. 'Gladiator' is an all-round amazing picture, with beautiful direction, wonderful performances, and a superb score, like I said, 'Gladiator' is a class. I am giving 'Gladiator' a 10/10. Pick this one up on 4K UHD if you get the chance, it looks simply stunning. Chris has written this movie review for Sanity.