Christopher Nolan on ‘Gladiator II’: ‘We’re There to See Our Own Dark Desires at a Comfortable Remove’

variety.com:

Christopher Nolan As part of Variety’s Directors on Directors series, “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan weighed in on Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” In Ridley Scott’s first “Gladiator,” Maximus asks us, “Are you not entertained?” and we’re confronted with the truth of why we’d visit the Colosseum through a movie.

Scott knows we’re not there for insights into Roman culture; we’re there to see our own dark desires at a comfortable remove.

But he’s far too experienced a director to get caught making parallels with our time. He lets the world of “Gladiator II” speak for itself, once again showing us who we are simply by inviting us to enjoy the crazy inflationary ride.

Why are there sharks in the Colosseum? Because we demand them, and Scott masterfully gives them to us. 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.