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Reviews
Down from the Mountain (2000)
A complete joy . . .
As concert films go, "Down from the Mountain" is neither the most stunning nor the most creative. Other filmmakers, surely with more time to prepare and film, have captured musical performances with more flair. Nevertheless, "Down from the Mountain" is an exceptional film, a complete joy for those of us who loved "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and the "old-timey" music it showcased. Without exception, the artists participating in this Nashville concert last year are shown to be kind, good-natured, and incredibly talented. How unusual to see on film a group of artists, characters all of them, who have limitless talent, and yet are not shown to be arrogant or overpaid. Emmylou Harris, Chris Thomas King, and Ralph Stanley in particular shine like the stars they are.
The Funeral (1996)
Sometimes the most disappointing films are those with the most potential . . .
Sometimes the most disappointing films are those with the most potential. I really expected a lot of "The Funeral," especially given its cast and director, but unfortunately it failed to keep me interested for its full ninety minutes. The three male leads (Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, and Vincent Gallo) turn in rather solid performances, but once again, as in most gangster films, the women characters are relegated to the role of powerless, grieving widow.
"The Funeral" is not entirely an exercise in Italian gangster stereotypes, however. It begins promisingly enough, approaching several new topics (including the way socialism might have impacted a gangster with a heart for the working man), but meanders in its second act, causing its powerful conclusion to seem tacked-on and non-sequitur.
5 of 10.
Gladiator (2000)
Rent "Spartacus" instead . . .
I had high hopes for "Gladiator." This is the first Roman epic to appear in years (not counting the recently released "Titus," as it is more Elizabethan than Roman), and with the promise of Russell Crowe and a large budget, I thought it would be a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Though Crowe does deliver a fine performance, this film is crippled by a ridiculous script, delivering thinly drawn supporting characters and perhaps the worst ending since last year's "Pushing Tin." I admit, many of the gladitorial combats are amazing to watch, but they simply cannot support the story. As far as accuracy to Roman customs and history goes, the filmmakers succeed in their portrayal of Roman death games as being widely varied: we see games involving animals, chained gladiator pairs, and battle reenactments ("the Battle of Carthage" scene in "Gladiator" is quite powerful and darkly comic), yet, they make the standard mistake of the "thumbs up/thumbs down" issue in the Roman arena. When the crowd wanted an emperor, or other game sponsor, in Rome to allow an athlete to live, they raised their hands, not their thumbs, to indicate a show of mercy. I admit, this is a minor point, but one could imagine that the filmmakers might have done a little more homework on such issues. Incidentally, there are numerous readable and engaging scholarly works on the subject of the Roman games, Roland Auguet's 1972 "Cruelty and Civilization" in particular. "Gladiator" contains other glaring historical inconsistencies, but I dare not mention them for fear of spoiling the ending.
If you're craving a Roman epic, I would suggest skipping "Gladiator" in favor of Stanley Kubrick's 1960 "Spartacus," an occasionally flawed, yet much superior film.