Peter Truax

Someone needs to take Ridley Scott’s movie-making license away. Pros: Denzel Washington delivers a successful villain in the eminence gris mold. Joseph Quinn is surprisingly good as Emperor Geta, although paired with Caracalla, though nodding to historical realism, means two actors are playing what could’ve been one part, for better effect. Cons: The plot, or lack thereof. All of Paul Mezcal’s dialogue, or rather, monologues to other cast members. The concept of Gladiatorial combat as being an affair between human beings as opposed to humans versus demon monkeys and rocket sharks. And for a movie set in the Roman Empire specifically featuring its decadence and decline, there was a sorely missed absence of gay sex, which given the cast, you almost wonder how it didn’t get improv’d in. Also-ran: Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal were also featured in this film.