‘Gladiator’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano, and Jason Concepcion
May 5, 2020 · Gladiator (2000) · Action · Adventure · Drama · 1:29:51 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsOpening battle scene, Richard Harris telling Maximus he wants him to be king, Maximus escaping the execution order▶ 31:47
Chris RyanOpening battle scene - specifically highlighted Russell Crowe's 'At my signal, unleash hell' line delivery▶ 34:10
Jason ConcepcionOpening battle scene - praised the realism and Maximus's character introduction during the pre-battle walk▶ 32:27
Shea SerranoOpening battle scene - emphasized Russell Crowe's instant character building without words▶ 33:39
What's Aged the Best
Chris RyanThe fight scenes - specifically calls them the best sword and sandal fight scenes he's ever seen▶ 59:54
Jason ConcepcionIncest/suggestions of incest - argues that in a post-Game of Thrones world, the incest themes have become more culturally acceptable and prominent▶ 59:16
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsMovie could be trimmed by 15 minutes - some laborious pacing, and Oliver Reed's final scene looks fake due to technology limitations▶ 1:00:03
Chris RyanThe Elysium heaven sequences with wheat fields and horses - feels like obvious script padding▶ 1:00:27
Jason ConcepcionThe psychic family visions/wheat touching scenes and the Roman Republic democracy messaging after the gladiator peak▶ 1:01:04
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsOliver Reed — Discusses Oliver Reed's performance and shares behind-the-scenes context about a cut storyline▶ 1:03:08
Chris RyanOliver Reed — Oliver Reed as Proximo for his heat check performance talking about queer giraffes▶ 1:02:38
Jason ConcepcionOliver Reed — Oliver Reed as Proximo for his hammy, scenery-chewing performance▶ 1:02:43
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsMel Gibson — Mentioned Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Stiller, and Hugh Jackman as considered for main role; discussed Russell Crowe pushing for Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius instead of Richard Harris▶ 1:03:38
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsTommy Flanagan — Tommy Flanagan as Cicero - the guy with the big scar on his face, very loyal to Maximus▶ 1:04:12
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShared multiple facts: $3.2 million spent on Oliver Reed CGI, Marcus Aurelius died of plague not murder, Commodus ruled 12 years and was strangled by wrestler Narcissus, Maximus was fictional, Lucilla was executed by Commodus, Russell Crowe's extensive injuries during filming▶ 1:10:52
Chris RyanSaid he doesn't care about historical accuracy and believes it's all accurate, calling it 'fake news of Rome', then made jokes about ancient Roman sports journalism and load management▶ 1:12:17
Jason ConcepcionJokingly insisted all historical details from the movie are accurate, particularly the opening battle scenes▶ 1:12:07
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsRussell Crowe — Russell Crowe - yes, Hans Zimmer - yes, Connie Nielsen - yes, touching wheat - yes▶ 1:18:43
Chris RyanTouching wheat - yes, explained how it became mainstream signifier after this movie▶ 1:20:32
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsCommodus should have killed Maximus immediately after their fight instead of letting him live - he's not letting this guy who he knows murdered his father live for five minutes in real life▶ 1:21:17
Chris RyanThe geography issue of riding from Germany to Spain (9 months across Europe) and taking Maximus way into the forest for assassination instead of doing it more simply▶ 1:22:22
Jason ConcepcionThe geography is unrealistic - Maximus fighting in Germany then riding to Spain over what would be an extremely long trip, evidenced by his crazy long hair growth▶ 1:21:42
Shea SerranoWhy do they tell him to ride till dawn instead of just killing him outside the tent - Commodus should take the bad PR for a couple days rather than this elaborate plan▶ 1:21:30
Movies Referenced (47)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Jason Concepcion | ▶ 1:14:34 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion, Chris Ryan | ▶ 25:55 |
| Blade Runner (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion, Chris Ryan | ▶ 25:58 |
| Blade (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion | ▶ 40:36 |
| Braveheart (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | ▶ 5:55 |
| Days of Heaven (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:20:28 |
| Deja Vu (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Shea Serrano | ▶ 27:41 |
| Elysium (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:00:27 |
| Kingdom of Heaven (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion | ▶ 1:14:39 |
| Lethal Weapon (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:43 |
| Proof of Life (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:53 |
| Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:21 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 1:58 |
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 4:51 |
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 24:06 |
| Marcus Aurelius | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Jason Concepcion, Bill Simmons | Blade | ▶ 17:58 |
| Kevin Garnett | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Uncut Gems | ▶ 1:09:30 |
| Terrence Malick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Days of Heaven, The Tree of Life | ▶ 1:20:56 |
Actors Referenced (56)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Crowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 36 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 1:58 |
| Joaquin Phoenix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Walk the Line, Gladiator | ▶ 16:04 |
| Richard Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Unforgiven, Gladiator | ▶ 19:12 |
| Oliver Reed | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion, Chris Ryan | Gladiator | ▶ 29:58 |
| LeBron James | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Shea Serrano, Jason Concepcion, Bill Simmons | ▶ 43:59 | |
| Connie Nielsen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Gladiator, One Hour Photo, Wonder Woman | ▶ 1:08:33 |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion, Chris Ryan | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 59:12 |
| Angelina Jolie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Maleficent, Changeling | ▶ 1:08:33 |
| Hans Zimmer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Jason Concepcion | Gladiator, Interstellar | ▶ 1:19:00 |
| Jonathan Billions | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:26 | |
| Mark Ruffalo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Spotlight, The Kids Are All Right, The Avengers | ▶ 22:58 |
| Mimi Rogers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Lost in Space | ▶ 24:35 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Koppelman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Runaway Jury, Michael Clayton | ▶ 30:20 |
| David Benioff | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:23:29 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 28:52 |