Paul Mescal is Mesmerizing – Denzel Captivating in Gladiator II

In May 2000, Gladiator hit theaters and created an Oscar winning performance with Russell Crowe as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius leading the Roman army to victory over the Germanic tribes near Vindobona.

Now, in 2024, years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Both films directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II is the reason audiences flock to theaters to watch cinema.  With fantastically long and intense battle scenes, once again it’s the meticulously crafted performances that make this film purr.

Mescal is Crowe reincarnated, simply meaning he inhabits almost the identical spitfire vigor.  Yet it is his vulnerably sweet moments with Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) that layers this complicated man giving him depth and breadth of a true Roman warrior.

Nielsen is soft, sexy and simply stunning in how she manipulates every single male in her orbit exhibiting the true mark of a champion.  Being the only woman featured int he film she nearly eclipses them all with once glance or stare full of longing.

Joseph Quinn (Emperor Geta) and Fred Hechinger (Emperor Caracalla) are maniacally mesmerizing with each gesture, word and movement.  Their scenes with Denzel Washington are priceless and the comedy they unintentionally spew is worth the price of admission alone. Which brings me to the silent superstar of this film…Washington.

With this film, the Oscar winner is delivering the crown jewel of his career with the cinematic gift of  Macrinus.  Macrinus is the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing much like Judas in the Bible.  Yet, it the manner in which he slithers through this character that makes him simultaneously impressive and despicable to the palate of one’s taste. Not to mention the fact, that men or women of color rarely inhabit these worlds on screen in this capacity.  People of color are usually seen as concubines or slaves..rarely as someone calling the shots that ultimately and adversely affect the other characters.

Gladiator II is gorgeously shot with magnificent direction and performances that will become iconically eternal.