Despite being one of the movies most memorable moments, Joaquin Phoenix's thumbs down Gladiator not actually historically accurate. Gladiator It is a historical epic film released in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott, one of Ridley Scott's best historical films. The film follows Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) as he rises in the gladiatorial arena to seek revenge on Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) for killing Maximus' family. Gladiator It became the second highest grossing film of 2000 and won many awards for its acclaimed cinematography, musical score and brilliant acting.
With 80% Tomatoes on Rotten Tomatoes, Gladiator is a favorite movie and it has many fantastic qualities. However, the film is not the most historically accurate for many reasons; Maximus is not a real general, Christianity came much later than the film suggests, and heavy weapons such as dart-throwers and catapults were not as portable as depicted. Gladiator he changed much of Roman history for the film, dramatizing and even fictionalizing elements to tell his story. In fact, despite being one of the most iconic images Gladiator, Commodus's thumbs-down gesture doesn't follow history at all.
Gladiator Gets The Emperor's Thumbs Down Gesture Completely Wrong
Gesture of the Phoenix Date Not Accurate
In Gladiatorthe emperor's thumbs down gesture is wrong and the movie moment doesn't match real world history. “Police on the contrary” meanswith a turned thumb” is Latin and refers to a hand gesture used to pass judgment on the fate of a defeated warrior in the gladiatorial arena. The thumbs-up gesture has been debated by scholars, but classical studies professor Anthony Corbeill found that the thumbs-up gesture signified the gladiator's slayingbut the closed fist saved them. Therefore, this gesture was directed at the victorious gladiator in response to the fate of the fallen.
The popular misconception of the hand gesture against the police probably originates from the 1872 painting “Pollice Verso” by Jean-Léon Gérom, which depicts a crowd using a thumbs-down gesture to signal the death of a defeated gladiator.
However, Gladiator as he changed his gesture Commodus gave a thumbs up motion for the fallen gladiator to surviveand thumbs down for killing them. When Maximus and Commodus meet for the first time after Maximus' family has been murdered, the mob convinces the emperor to let the gladiator live. In Maximus's second gladiatorial victory, he lowers Commodus' thumb and saves the fallen gladiator's life. Gesture is important Gladiator's iconography because it represents the rivalry between Maximus and Commodus, although its inaccuracy may irritate some people. Gladiator look again.
Why Joaquin Phoenix's Move in Gladiator Still Works
Gesture Makes Sense in Gladiator
Although Gladiator's historically inaccurate thumbs-up gesture, Joaquin Phoenix's move still works in the context of the film and was arguably better. Ridley Scott was probably aware of the inaccuracy, but felt that a redefined gesture would help those without deep historical knowledge of the Roman era and all its intricacies, as they would be able to understand the gesture. Gladiator for its simplicity. A thumbs up is a universally recognized good omen, and so the emperor uses it to signify that the gladiator should live. Therefore, the gesture makes sense Gladiator because it allows the audience to easily determine Commodus' intentions.
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Besides, He made a thumbs down gesture for a dramatic moment Gladiator showed his extreme disapproval. Commodus and Maximus did not like each other very much Gladiator and their rivalry and plot drives the film. Challenging Maximus' morality, Commodus creates a dramatic moment in the film by asking him to kill a fallen gladiator, especially as Maximus defies him. In the end, the gesture or other historical inaccuracies did not affect the film in the long run because Gladiator It broke records with its Best Picture win in 2000, and some might argue that Phoenix's iconic thumbs-down contributed to the film's iconic status.
How Joaquin Phoenix's Signature Move Played In Gladiator 2
Commodus' Thumbs Down Gesture Reused
Joaquin Phoenix's signature move is repeated Gladiator II trailerremains a large part of the showing Gladiator's iconography. Gladiator II It was officially announced in 2018 that Ridley Scott returned to direct the sequel to the historical epic. After the death of Commodus in the first film, the sequel focuses on Commodus' nephew Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) fighting for the co-emperors Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) in the gladiatorial arena. In the trailer, Geta uses the thumbs-down gesture as Joaquin Phoenix's emperor character. original Gladiatorshows it stuck with the franchise Gladiator's a historically inaccurate decision.