Explanation video can be found here (in Spanish)

In this video I dissect cut by cut the type of shot (MS, CU, WS, etc.) that is chosen to show information in the famous scene of the movie GLADIATOR (2000): “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius”.

It is such an intense scene and still, I have the feeling there is some sort of peculiar epicness which is being illustrated in this moment, while there is a lot of character friction and gut feeling going on. In my mind, if I were to imagine and edit how Maximus and Commodus are dealing mentally with this tense moment, I would imagine a bunch of close ups and extreme close ups. For instance, the hands of Maximus, hiding a broken arrow from the game trying to find a momento to stab Commodus, or specially the eyes of Commodus, which transmit surprise and exasperation in brilliant manner.

Close ups are to be used to show something in specific, like an object, but also to induce a more exaggerated interest or concern towards an object or character. In this case, close ups are being used to induce more fury and a sense of resentment from Maxiums, Commodus, and Lucila (she is more of a bitter character in this scene, I explain the whole thing in the video).

But, more interestingly, which captivates me the most from this whole scene edit, is the very well thought use of wide shots: there is much more going on in the wides rather than in the close ups.

The wides provide, such as the take implies, a “wider” view of the whole event including the crew, the army, and the main characters. And why would you care about what the crew thinks, or how the army acts? Why is it that the ambiance of this scene is so important? Well, this whole conversation between Commodus and Maximus concerns only them, but depends also on the crew and the looks from Lucila, in this case forming part of the foreground atmosphere. There comes the importance of the wide and subtle incoming violence visuals.

The wide shot also provides a capacity of showing more information, in both background and foreground. Therefore, there are clear examples such as this upper frame where the sword it shown in the foreground, and there is still space to show the reactions from Commodus. It is a subtle way to throw a visual message to the audience: “watch close and carefully, this word may be used somehow”. Rising tension constantly.

In conclusion, there is this constant surround presence that evolves toward the looks between Maximus, Commodus and Lucila that plays a huge role in the development of this critical point of the film. For me it is the revelation plot point, where the life of both Commodus and Maximus is about to change and connect them both into a violent terminal end.

Movie: GLADIATOR (2000)
Film editing by Pietro Scalia.