Christopher Nolan, renowned for his cinematic brilliance, has revealed his favorite film of 2024 to be Gladiator II. In a new Variety feature, he praised Ridley Scott for creating a masterpiece that invites us to explore our own dark desires while providing a thrilling entertainment experience.

Unveiling Nolan's Favorite Film and Scott's Cinematic Mastery

Back to the Original and the Greatness of Gladiator II

Nolan hearkened back to the original Gladiator and explained that part of its greatness lies in Scott's ability to show us our own dark desires at a comfortable remove. He emphasized that Scott didn't make direct parallels with our time, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the story. For example, the presence of sharks in the Colosseum is a testament to our demand for excitement and Scott's masterful delivery. This concept is further explored in Gladiator II, where Scott once again puts a mirror to society. As he reveals how the games are used to manipulate public opinion, we can't help but see shadows of our own public arena projected onto the sand.

Balancing Individual Pathos and Expansionist Demands

Nolan continued by lauding Scott's ability to balance the individual pathos of the original with the expansionist demands of the sequel's central themes. He highlighted Scott's action sequencing, which masterfully wrestles the action into clear and jaw-dropping sequence after sequence. The staging of the action is incredible, with a hyper-observant, multi-camera mise-en-scène that is so different from the original. This not only entertains but also drives us towards awareness of the movie's themes. For instance, the intense battle scenes are not just about spectacle but also about the underlying messages.

The Masterful Opening Shot and Scott's Contribution

Concluding his praise, Nolan added that despite all his success, Scott's contribution to the evolution of cinematic storytelling has never been properly acknowledged. This is especially clear in the masterful opening shot of Gladiator II, where Paul Mescal's hand gently cradles the grain harvested from the original movie's swaying wheat. It's a small detail that speaks volumes about Scott's attention to detail and his ability to connect the two films. The sequel not only lives up to the expectations set by the original but also takes it to a new level.It's worth noting that Scott's own cinematographer, John Mathieson, recently had a different view, describing the filmmaking of Gladiator II as "really lazy" and "quite impatient." However, in our Gladiator II review, Senior Entertainment Editor Liz Shannon Miller agreed with Nolan's assessment of its "epic battles and transportive sweeping filmmaking," while also acknowledging that the film was "undercut by a script tragically burdened by cliches."Pre-order your physical copy of the movie here and explore all the ways the sequel connects to the original film.