Gladiator

Crowe, R. (2000). Gladiator's poster. Retrieved June 22, 2015 from http://www.impawards.com/2000/gladiator_ver3_xlg.html

            The story begins with The Great Ruler of Rome; Emperor Marcus Aurelius intended to pass his throne to Maximus Decimus Meridius, the finest general instead of his son, Commodus. Out of his jealousy, Commodus murdered his father and also intrigues to do the same way to Maximus. However, Maximus was able to escape from his execution. Along his escape, Maximus sensed that his family were in great danger and instantly rushed for their rescue. Unfortunately, it was too late when he reached his home, all he could found was his wife’s and child’s dead bodies nailed on the cross. Maximus collapsed from the suffering loss of his family’s brutal death. He later realized that he was saved by an African and became slave after he was sold to become Gladiator. From slave, he strive through many fights and finally to becoming the heroic Gladiator in the Colosseum. He seeks his revenge from there.

            Through the semantic perspective, it was obvious that the settings were placed in the period of A.D. 180 Rome. The most significant stage for the thorough scenes is the Collosseum where it was the notable building in Rome. Many of the camping tents also could be seen in the early scene as to show the raging war period of Rome. Other than the Colosseum scenes, the castle of Commodus also plays as one of the major platform for the flow of narratives. 

(2000). Colosseum building [Image, screen capture].

(2000). Camping tent scene [Image, screen capture].

Despite, settings can be also used as an implication of an actor’s psychological disturbance. For instance, when Commodus came in to Emperor Marcus’s tent, there were many curtains covering almost the whole feature of Commodus. This implied that Commodus was about to do something secret that nobody would knew except him which was murdering Emperor Marcus.

(2000). Commodus enters Emperor Marcus's tent [Image, screen capture].

            In terms of mise-en-scene, props also serve as an iconic item in the overall film. In the film Gladiator, props used mostly were weapons like shield, armor, bow and so on. It is because the platform was set during the Romanian war period. Other than that, props can become the metaphor to descibe an actor’s sentiment. For example, the two tiny carved statues of Maximus family, his wife and son. Both of these tiny statues show Maximus’s immense love for his family. It reminds the audience of Maximus’s love to his family. Whenever, he encountered struggle or making a huge decision, Maximus would look at both these tiny statues and gained strength from them.

(2000). Maximus's carved statues of his wife and son [Image, screen capture].

            Furthermore, costumes and make-up also play an important role in the language of film. The status of a character can be visible with the change of an outfit. For instance, the transformation of Maximus from a slave to Gladiator is visible with the wear of armor. It also indicates how Maximus struggles and fights for his fate; from a slave gradually taking the position of Gladiator that loved by the people of Rome. The armor he wore also proves his status of becoming the savior of Rome. 

(2000). Maximus' stattus change from slave to gladiator [Image, screen capture].

Besides, divergence between the authority and the poor citizens were also evident to be seen through their clothing and make-up. For instance, the upper-class residents wore expensive fabrics embroidered with much jewelry while the lower-class citizens wore ragged or cheap cloths.

(2000). The difference of social status through clothing [Image, screen capture].

            Besides, performance of actors and actresses are also one of the important elements within a film. Performance including facial expressions and body languages of actors or actresses could emphasize or affect the atmosphere of a particular scene. While acting in front of camera, actors or actresses need to hold the skills of “naturalism” in order to emphasize the feeling in the scene and to reach the audience’s satisfaction. Although playing as a villain, Commodus was not as evil and cunning as other villains. Instead, the audience could judge him as a coward emperor and was always afraid of people around him would betrayed him one day. Commodus also does not played as a formidable character. One of his body language that told that he does not felt secure was that he often would relied on his sister, Lucilla whenever bad fate inclined to him.

(2000). Commodus gained comfort from his sister [Image, screen capture]

Moreover, atmosphere or the relationships between characters were connected with the positioning of characters or objects within a frame. By positioning the characters in particular places, the whole mood in a frame could be emphasized intensely. For instance, Commodus was positioned at a high seat in the Colosseum, showing his great authority over the people and slaves. 

(2000). Commodus sitting on high place overlook the slaves [Image, screen capture].

Despite that, director would sometimes place two male and female characters in a close position to indicate that they share a romance relationship. To take an example’s scene, Maximus and Lucilla were often seen standing close to each other in the film, indicating the vague romance relationships shared by them.

(2000). Lucilla and Maximus shared a former relationship [Image, screen capture].

            Finally, the last trait in mise-en-scene is lighting. Variant color of lighting could shape out the atmosphere of the entire scene where it could captures the audience’s attention and further their expectations. In initial part of scenes, the color lighting used was rather dim and bluish to show the miserable war atmosphere. 

(2000). Dim and bluish lighting applied in the midst of war [Image, screen capture].

In major parts of the film, dim color lighting or chiaroscuro lighting was also often used. The purpose is to portray the nervous atmosphere of the thorough narratives. For instance, when Commodus is planning something bad, low key lighting will be applied on his face. Sometimes, the director will play lights on certain facial expressions to enhance the psychological feeling of a character. For example, after the arrangement of Maximus’s escape, Lucilla met Commodus where he questioned her whereabouts. At that moment, a line of lighting source was applied on Lucilla’s eyes, indicating the mysterious plan she had prepared. Furthermore, surreal color was applied during the illusion saw by Maximus after he was injured.

(2000). A line of light source casts on Lucilla's eyes [Image, screen capture].

            Mise-en-shot is defined as how each of the shots are designed or done for a particular meaning. Different types of shot scale used in particular scenes portray different meaning behind the shots. When in conversational scene, over the shoulder shot was often used to have the audience see clear views of two characters are having a chat. Apart from that, close-up shot was often applied whenever an important expression is delivered by the actors. For instance, close-up shot on Maximus grieving over his wife’s and child’s death. 

(2000). Maximus mourned for his dead wife and son [Image, screen capture].

Sometimes, the director would shoot a frame in 360 degree angle in order to show the massive spatial environment of certain place, such as the scene where the crowds cheered for Maximus. 

(2000). Camera rotates 360 degree in this scene [Image, screen capture].

In terms of camera angle, low key camera angle was most generally applied while showing a character’s power position, like the scene where low angle was shot when Commodus capture Lucilla and threaten her. It was to enhance the villain’s characteristics of Commodus and indicates his dominant power over people around him. 

(2000). Commodus captured Lucilla and threaten her [Image, screen capture].

Compare to editing cut shot, camera mobility was less utilized in Gladiator. One of the crane shot that was visible is during the escape of Maximus though the duration was short. Crane shot or panning were usually to show the direction of a character is going.

(2000). Maximus runs away from his execution [Image, screen capture].

            In addition to film language, editing technique was massively used in the overall film. One of the techniques that had used is cross-cutting where it is to show two events happening simultaneously. This technique could be seen during the escape of Maximus in which the frame also edits to his home simultaneously, showing the arriving of soldiers to Maximus house. Besides that, impact editing techniques was applied at the end of narratives when Maximus seeing illusion of his home as he was slowly dying. The shot scale was violently changed from long medium shot to close-up on Maximus’s face. It was to indicate that he is dying and had seen the illusion of his home.

(2000). Maximus sees illusion of his homeland after he was injured [Image, screen capture].

            In the consideration of ambiance, the director emphasizes a lot on sounds. It can be stated as one of the key element to fulfill the quality of Gladiator. Scenes which involve violent fighting and blood shedding battle, the intense instrumental music will fade in and heighten the nervous atmosphere. Moreover, intense instrumental music also fades in whenever Commodus is intriguing on something. Other than that, during the scene where Maximus sees the illusion of his family, the surreal type of music plays in. 

(2000). Surreal background music plays at the end of the scenes [Image, screen capture].

Sound could utilize as a tool to express a character’s feeling. For example, when Commodus provokes Maximus to kill him by describing the death of Maximus’s wife and son, the melancholic instrumental music plays in instead. Hence, the audience will comprehend that Maximus will not take Commodus life yet, as he grief for his suffering of his wife and son.

            Gladiator is a film that is worth watching as it portrays meaningful messages of “win your own destiny” and “war only brings suffering and loss”. Although there are some buildings in the setting were modified from 3D and looks unrealistic, and many viewer criticize it as well, but the narratives told a great wisdom behind and people should focus more on the story rather than the composition.

           

Reference

No author (n.d.). Gladiator (2000 film). Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 22, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_(2000_film) 

No author (n.d.).Gladiator Synopsis. Fandango. Retrieved June 22, 2015, from http://www.fandango.com/gladiator_30/plotsummary