Displaying items by tag: Denzel Washington

GLADIATOR II

US, 2024, 148 minutes, Colour.

Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Neilson, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Matt Lucas, Tim McInerny.

Directed by Ridley Scott.

While sequels are often welcomed by an audience, they also often find it difficult to maintain the standard of the original film. Which is the case here. Gladiator won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2000 as well as an Oscar for Russell Crowe in his role as the strong Roman warrior, Maximus. She is one was a triumph for prolific director, Ridley Scott.

It was something of a surprise when plans were made over 20 years later for this sequel. The focus is on the son of Maximus who died in the first film, his son with Lucilla, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius. He is Lucius, played by Paul Mescal, seen first quietly living in North Africa, the Romans attacking under the leadership of General Acacius, Pedro Pascal, the North Africans defeated, taken to Rome, sold as slaves, many commandeered as gladiators.

Audiences will see the parallel scenario with the original film, the provinces, Roman warfare, prisoners, slavery, the Colosseum, gladiators, harsh life, brutality in the arena, political intrigue.

As with the original film, Gladiator II looks quite spectacular, special effects, naval battle sequences, extraordinary fights in the Colosseum especially against monstrous effect monster monkeys, and the recreation of a battle sequence in the Colosseum. Many of these scenes are very violent, and some of them exceedingly brutal in the impact. Sometimes we might wonder, as we watch the brutality of the fights and audience excitement that we are very much like these vicious Romans and their control of human life with thumbs down.

As with the Emperor, Commodus in the original film, there are two rather despicable emperors this time, the twins Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) as symbols of the decline of the Roman Empire. Returning from the original film is Connie Neilson as Lucilla, daughter of Marcus Aurelius, mother of Lucius, recognising him, trying to make contact, eventually sacrificing herself for him. She is also in a relationship with General Acacius. One of the difficulties for the impact of the drama is that while Paul Mescal is exceedingly serious and single-minded as Lucius, he is not charismatically engaging for the audience a little in here and charm, while Pedro Pascal as Acacius does have leadership charism.

But, the big difference for this drama is the presence of Denzel Washington as the former slave with political and power ambitions, based on an actual character, Macrinus, a master in buying slaves, controlling the gladiators, with entree to the Emperor’s, deals with corrupt senators, waiting for his power grab moments, unscrupulous with his violence, even with the Emperors.

Given the limitations, the repetitions in parallels with the original, and the single-minded sternness of Paul Mescal as Lucius, audiences who enjoy Roman epics, will enjoy Gladiator II as well.

1. The impact of the original film? Its legacy? So many years for a sequel? The continuity? The scenario of the first parallel scenario of the sequel?
2. The work of Ridley Scott, epics? And audience response?
3. The settings, North Africa, the city, the battles, the Navy, the Roman conquest? The road to Rome? The entry? The Colosseum, the quarters for the gladiators? The animals? The use of the Colosseum, fights, naval battles? The royal palace? Homes? The market for gladiators? The musical score?
4. The links with the original, the mentions of Maximus, the flashbacks and the appearance of Russell Crowe? Connie Neilson as Lucilla, her relationship with Maximus, with, discovering with Lucius? Derek Jacoby as the senator?
5. Africa, Lucius and his life there, relationship with his wife, warrior, silent about his identity, the local authorities, the attack of the Romans, the details of the battles, strategies, defeat? Imprisonment? The death of his wife, seeing her pass into the next life, grief?
6. The prisoners going to Rome, the entrance to the city, the legions and the triumphant entry, general Acacius, his relationship to Lucilla, his tribute to the Senate, their suspicions, their wanting him to go on further conquests? His own response, with Lucilla, his significance in the revolt against Rome, his legions at Ostia, the sending of the message, his being trapped, sparing Lucius, his own death? Lucilla’s grief?
7. The role of Macrinus, dented Washington’s presence, slave, freed, ambitions for the Senate, ruling Rome? The auctions of slaves, seeing Lucy is in action, his talents, strength, perseverance, purchase? His master of slaves and the treatment of the slaves? The training, the accommodation in the below the Colosseum? The fight in the Colosseum, the monstrous monkeys and battles, UCS and his survival? The response of the crowds, the emperors, thumbs up?
8. The personality of Lucy is, silent about his identity, his anonymity in Africa, his relationship, the defeat, the death of his wife? With the other slaves? With the master of slaves, his being tested? With Macrinus? With Lucilla, her visit, his identity, his resistance? His eventually changing, the encounter with Acacius, the fight in the arena, spared, acacias death?
9. The background of the emperors, their status, twins, effete life, games, the court, the worms? The attitude of the Senators? Acacius? Macrinus and his setting them up, the death of Geta?
10. Arrow colour, wilfulness, childish, nominating his monkey as senator?
11. Lucius, behind-the-scenes, the ex gladiator, observing, supportive Lucius, his sending him to Ostia to bring the troops?
12. The buildup, the taking of Lucilla, in the arena, her death, the many troops converging on Lucius?
13. The troops arrival, Macrinus and his control, his deals with the senators, the corrupt senator, the gambling, the meeting of the senators, Gracchus and the past, and government, decline? The death of Gracchus?
14. The troops arriving, Lucius and his a leadership, the confrontation with Macrinus? And the future?

THE EQUALIZER 3

US, 2023, 109 minutes, Colour.

Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastandreo, David Denman, Gaia Scodellaro, Remo Girone, Andrea Scarduzio, Andrea Dodero.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Denzel Washington has shown quite some versatility in his range of characters over a career of more than 40 years. In his 50s, while still making serious films (Fences, Macbeth), he set out on the action hero path (many commentators noting the parallel with the career of Liam Neeson who is two years older than Washington). And, with the 2013 action show, Denzel Washington became The Equaliser. The second episode in 2018.

One of the criticisms of this kind of franchise is that it becomes formulaic. Critics often dismiss the formulaic – but audiences are expecting the formula, to see the variations, to test how they work. Which is very much the case here.

However, this film has the great advantage of being set in Italy and offering some spectacular local scenery. The southern Italian town where the action is set (although there are some excursions to Naples and Rome) consists of sunny white buildings perched on an extraordinarily high crag, from the sea to a mountaintop. And, life in this town is what we might expect from Italian films, a genial population, a most sympathetic Dr, a nice parish priest, the police, shopkeepers. But…

We are in southern Italy, visits to Naples, and, as to be expected, the Camorra, smug and arrogant thugs, conscienceless, wanting to turn the picturesque town into a tourist and casino-gambling destination, using intimidating and violent tactics to overcome any opposition.

However, Robert McCall, the equaliser is there. A prologue introduces him, confronting drug dealers in Sicily, overcoming any opposition with technically expert violence, taking their money cache. But, it would seem the film is almost over at the beginning when he is shot in the back, unexpectedly by a young boy, contemplates dying, but gets the ferry and is picked up by the local police, treated by a sympathetic Dr, recovering, finding the town congenial, an obvious place for a happy retirement. But… The Camorra.

There is quite some complication given Robert McCall’s background and his role as a hitman involved in international detection. He chooses a young CIA agent, played by Dakota Fanning (who, as a child, starred with Washington in 2004 in Man of Fire). He gives her information, she getting to work with her collaborators, coming to meet him in the town, following his leads, which, in fact, almost get her killed.

Interestingly, McCall does not go in for big a spectacular shootout’s. Rather, he is a quiet individual, a talent with literally gripping opponents, picking the thugs of one by one, making a dramatic climax for the action.

Which means that this time Robert McCall, with Denzel Washington is intensity but also his genial smile and kindness in the town, make The Equaliser something of a genial psychopath in his behaviour. Is this the end of the franchise? Or will Dir Antoine Fuqua and Washington come up with another episode because this one has proven the most popular at the box office?

1. The popularity of the first two films? Denzel Washington, action hero?
2. The background of Robert McCall, the first two films, personal suffering, active involvement, hitman, the CIA connections, his skill in espionage, action, killing – genial but with the touch of the psychopath?
3. The prologue, Sicily, the drugs issue, the farm, the men, the shootout, Robert being held, turning the tables, the shooting, finding the money, taking it, the scene with the boy in the truck, the boy shooting him, the wound, contemplating suicide, in the car, the ferry, collapsing on the highway, the policeman finding him, the rescue, the doctor healing him, going to the town?
4. The visual beauty of the locations, the town on the steep cliff, old buildings, white buildings, the streets, homes, stores, the church? The musical score?
5. Robert, bonding with the doctor, calling every wound simply a fall? The gradual recovery, the question of whether he was a good man or a bad man? Moving around the town, the cafe, cups of tea, finding the town congenial, limping, the stairs, the priest, gradual recovery?
6. The background of the Camorra, Vincent, the boss, the meetings in Rome, his ambitions, transforming the town, casinos and tourists? His henchmen, the discussions? His brother, wild, brutal with his friends, the bikes? The brother coming to the town, the threat to the shopkeeper, demanding the money, the bashing? Robert observing? The confrontation in the piazza, the priest, the police and the bashing?
7. The brother and his gang returning, in the restaurant, the confrontation with the policeman, taking his daughter, the threats to his wife, the bashing? In the restaurant, the confrontation with Robert, the equalizer and his skills, touching the nerve, ousting the brother? Retreating?
8. The return, the threats, Robert and his dealing with the whole group, the gruesome deaths? Vincent and his response?
9. The religious procession countering the killings?
10. The life of the town, the doctor and his reputation, the policeman, at the shops, the children? An attractive picture of southern Italian life?
11. The contrast with scenes in Naples, Vincent and his home? The scenes in Rome, the terrorist attack on the station? The CIA officers?
12. Robert and his phone call to Emma, giving her the information, her acting on it, the CIA, the Sicilian situation, drugs, terrorism? Working with her associate, Frank Conroy?
13. Emma coming to the town, Robert recognising her voice, the conversations, his picking her for success, giving her the information, her research on him? In Rome, the threats to her, Vincent and his crew despising her, going to her car, Robert’s phone call, the explosion, her being saved, hospital? The issue of the money, Robert visiting her, the return of the money, the beneficiary, Emma and her visit to Boston and handing over the money? Generosity of an equalizer?
14. Vincent and his thugs, arrogant, smug, playing cards, in his mansion? Robert, the infiltration, the action sequences, overcoming everyone, the confrontation with Vincent, the wounds, Vincent fleeing outside the house, in the street, hit by the car?
15. Robert, returning to the town, happy to be there, equalising for them, a happy retirement? Or?