The movie's frenetic fight scenes are balanced by Russell Crowe's intense performance as Maximus and Ridley Scott's rich direction. Although, Joaquin Phoenix doesn't have Malcolm McDowell's mad edge as Commodus it doesn't matter. Connie Nielsen is regally sexy as Lucilla and Oliver Reed (who is almost unrecognizable as Proximo) is PHENOMENAL and his presence will be sorely missed. Character actor, Tommy Flanagan, makes another memorable impression...
