Review of Spartacus- Period 5 Lodge

Joshua Mun

Period 5

APLAC

Review of Spartacus

Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus is by all definitions of the word, great. When the film came out in 1960, audiences were captivated by the epic tale of the enslaved Spartacus' ill-fated journey to secure freedom in the face of the oppressive Roman empire. With numerous Academy Awards under its belt, Spartacus surely won the approval of critics around the country. But what makes it such a great film? The answer isn't simple- there are numerous factors that determine the quality of a film.

For one, a great film must have a compelling plot- a story that grips the audience and makes them genuinely interested. In addition, great films must have fantastic actors who are able to portray their characters with skill and passion. Finally, the audience must be able to extract a deeper meaning from the film- a message that the author conveys through the movie.

Sure enough, Spartacus features a compelling story. The film was set far in the past, when the Roman empire was still in power. Spartacus, a slave doomed to a life of slavery, finds himself sold to the gladiatorial school of Batiatus. Here, gladiators were trained to fight and die for the Romans' entertainment. At the school, he meets Varinia, a fellow slave, whom he instantly falls in love with. After months of intensive training, Spartacus becomes a hardened gladiator but still clings onto the hope of freedom. Sure enough, Spartacus leads a successful rebellion against his captors and assumes leadership of the newly-freed band of slaves. Meanwhile, the Roman Senate is scrambling to deal with the rebellion. They send multiple armies after the slaves but the slaves manage to dispatch every obstacle in their path to freedom. Ultimately, the forces of Spartacus eventually find themselves surrounded, faced with overwhelming numbers of Romans. The final battle is short and ends with the capture of Spartacus and his men. Crassus, a Roman officer, offers the slaves the opportunity to be spared death if Spartacus reveals himself. Before Spartacus stands, every slave rises up and proclaims, “I am Spartacus,” guaranteeing that each of them would die an agonizing death by crucifixion. By this time, Varinia has escaped and is about to leave Rome with her newborn son when she sees a crucified Spartacus. Overcome with grief, she shows him their son and assures him that the child will learn “who his father was, and what he dreamed of.” As Varinia leaves on a carriage, Spartacus watches her go before slumping his head, indicating his death.

Rarely does such a talented group of actors assemble to work in a single film. Kubrick's vision would not have come to life on the screen had it not been for the fantastic performances by Kirk Douglas and the supporting cast. Douglas' natural depiction of a defiant slave captivates the audience and draws them into the film. His talent especially shines in the scene where he parts ways with Varinia for the final time. Although he didn't have a single line in that particular scene, he is able to convey sorrow wordlessly through his facial expressions.

Finally, a film must have deeper meaning. This is where Spartacus truly shines; on a superficial level, the film is an action-packed, epic story with a dramatic ending. Delve deeper into it, and you find that there is a remarkable amount of sophistication behind Kubrick's masterpiece. One scene of special importance occurs late in the film. After Spartacus is crucified, Julius Caesar asks Crassus if he fears Spartacus. Crassus responds, “Not when I fought him, I knew he could be beaten. But now I fear him, even more than I fear you.” In death, Spartacus has become more powerful than he had ever been. He has become a martyr- a source of inspiration for slaves and irrefutable proof that even the mighty Roman empire could tremble before a single man.

Another meaningful scene takes place as Crassus is marveling over the glory of Rome. He proclaims, “Rome is an eternal thought in the mind of God.” Someone else notes, “I'd no idea you'd grown religious.” Crassus replies, “It doesn't matter. If there were no gods at all I'd still revere them. If there were no Rome, I'd still dream of her.” This scene symbolizes how humans often delude themselves into believing what they want to believe. Despite the fact that the Roman empire was corrupt to its very core, Crassus genuinely believed that even God favored it.

Some might argue that Spartacus is overly romantic at some scenes; especially when Spartacus is with Varinia. I'm sure everyone can relate to the idea of having someone you can always rely on. That's what Varinia is for Spartacus; someone who gives Spartacus genuine happiness even when the rest of his life is filled with suffering. Furthermore, it's important to note the difference in Spartacus' behavior. Around Varinia, he is only concerned with her; he's no longer the courageous leader of slaves, but the passionate lover. I believe Spartacus put it best when he said, “Who wants to fight? An animal can learn to fight. But to say beautiful things, and to make people believe them...” Spartacus was happiest around with Varinia's hand in his own, not a sword.

Works Cited:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054331/quotes