Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel, comes out in just two weeks. I definitely need to do a rewatch of the original 2000 film, but I remember what a big deal it was when it came out. Russell Crowe won an Oscar for his leading role as Maximus, and many people thought Ridley Scott should have won for directing as well (Steven Soderbergh won that year for Traffic). Given the strong reception Gladiator II is getting already, I think we might be getting a “he’s due” campaign for Ridley. Stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington have hit the promo trail, and now Ridley himself has a prominent interview in The Hollywood Reporter. It’s an entertaining read; Ridley is candid and passionate without being pretentious. Like when he’s asked if he thinks Quentin Tarantino will really quit after 10 films, Ridley says no, followed by “Shut up and go make another movie.” Some more highlights:
On if directing feels like ‘work’: Are you kidding? I wouldn’t be doing it [if directing felt like work]. It’s my passion and therefore my pleasure. I think it actually keeps me going.
He’s made 16 movies since 2000’s Gladiator?! Since [the original] Gladiator, I think I’ve done 16 movies — which is kind of a lot in 20 years. I always envied being an actor and you can do two or three movies a year. They don’t have to do any prep except learn their lines. I’ve got to have it written, budget it, cast it, shoot it, make it, edit it, and deliver it. The actor just has to turn up and do his f–king job.
Don’t ask him about retirement: When I go [makes croaking noise]. I mean, Clint [Eastwood] is 94. … I’m 86 now, so I’ve still got a few to go.
A valuable lesson in reading reviews: Pauline Kael in The New Yorker killed me stone dead with her Blade Runner review. It was four pages of destruction. I never met her. I was so offended. I framed those pages and they’ve been in my office for 30 years to remind me there’s only one critic that counts and that’s you. I haven’t read critiques ever since. Because if it’s a good one, you can get a swollen head and forget yourself. And if it’s a bad one, you’re so depressed that it’s debilitating.
Director Michael Mann suggested Russell Crowe for Gladiator: The guy I occasionally drop a note to is Michael Mann. Because Michael said, “I know you’re going to do a sword and sandal movie, and I know they’ve historically been ridiculous.” And he sent me [early footage] from The Insider and said, “Watch this guy called Russell Crowe.” I met Russell in here [scott nods to the conference room]. Russell talked about being overweight endlessly. I said, “I believe you’re going to be able to lose weight,” and he did.
Casting Paul Mescal was a similar experience: My job is to spot actors. I use very good casting directors, but when I’m prepping something, I’ve already got somebody in mind. I binge TV and saw this thing, Normal People, and thought: “This kid [Paul Mescal] is interesting,” and, “F–k me, he looks like Richard Harris.” Suddenly it came together: “This is Lucius.” And from that I asked him, “Do you want to do the film?”
“They don’t have to do any prep except learn their lines.” Oh man, those comments on actors are gonna get Ridley into trouble! There’s a lot more in Stanislavsky’s tome An Actor Prepares than just, “learn your lines,” I can tell you that. The thing is, I don’t think Ridley himself actually believes that’s all actors do. I think it was poor wording on his part, in trying to compare the scope of responsibilities a director has on a film vs an actor. But still, I would absolutely love to see the schooling Denzel Washington gives him when next they meet. By contrast, I thought Ridley got the tone just right when talking about Pauline Kael’s scathing review of Blade Runner. He didn’t bash Pauline, who was a revered and seminal critic. Yet he still illustrated his point. And framing the review to hang in his office for 30 years? That’s brilliant, and I’d like to think Pauline would even enjoy this anecdote (may she rest in praiseful prose).
Lastly, the interviewer asked Ridley at the end if there was anything else he’d like to say, to which Ridley had four words: “I miss my brother.”
photos credit: James Warren / Bang Showbiz / Avalon, Maria Laura Antonelli/AGF Foto/Avalon, IMAGO/Jennifer Bloc/Avalon