In Gladiator II, Irish actor Paul Mescal steps into the sandals once worn by Oscar winner Russell Crowe, taking on a lead role in the brutal world of the Ancient Roman arena. Mescal delivers an intelligent, nuanced performance that elevates the film beyond its violent combat scenes. The 28-year-old, a former minor and under-21 Gaelic footballer, brings a quiet, brooding intensity to his portrayal of Lucius. While he may not match his predecessor’s ferocity, Mescal exudes enough strength and gravitas to ensure he’s far from being a mere stoic pawn of Rome’s power-hungry elite.
Set 16 years after Crowe’s hero Maximus died in the original 2000 “Gladiator” film, the sequel follows a prisoner taken to Rome after his homeland is conquered by a fleet of Roman warships led by General Acacius, played by Pedro Pascal. Lucius is a slave who quickly finds himself in the bloody arena of the Colosseum, and his relationship with shady arms dealer Macrinus (Denzel Washington) gives the movie its dramatic heart.
While it’s difficult to compare anyone to Crowe, Mescal is a man driven by a sense of destiny and a romantic dream of an empire that serves its citizens rather than its tyrant-driven rulers. He’s a formidable warrior, but his character is driven by internal forces as much as external ones, and Scott well handles his arc from brute to avenging soldier to pious military commander.
He’s aided by a great supporting cast, from a solid Joaquin Phoenix as a demented Commodus to Spencer Treat Clark and Joe Quinn as tyrannical rivals for the empire’s crown. In the original film, Connie Nielsen, Crowe’s wife, is back as Lucilla here, adding a tremulous bite to her role as the woman who sent her son away as a child.
The colossal set pieces are dispatched with clinical efficiency, whether serving up one of the year’s most galaxy-brained action sequences or reveling in berserker violence, such as when Mescal chomps on a monkey with his teeth. But the backdoor power machinations are captivating and give the film sturdiness.
Although Gladiator II doesn’t stand up to historical scrutiny like its predecessor, it’s a fun popcorn flick with a compelling story from an exceptional cast. Paul Mescal, who doesn’t consistently achieve the elemental masculine gravitas of his predecessor, still has something to offer as a man with a shaggy, rugged nobility and idealism that could see him become the savior of Rome. This is an actor who deserves a broader spotlight, and his performance here proves he’s more than ready for it.
