"It's Kind Of Profound": Mel Gibson Praises Ridley Scott's Gladiator & Reveals His Favorite Shot

Mel Gibson is an extremely accomplished actor, but has also directed many critically-acclaimed movies over the course of his career. Some of Gibson's best movies include Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge. Through these movies and several more, Gibson has proven that he is a talented filmmaker. However, Gibson has claimed that he always likes to reference a shot included in a movie that was made by another iconic director, Ridley Scott.

Ridley Scott's best movies include Alien, Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, and American Gangster. However, Gibson admitted that he always references a specific shot from Scott's 2000 blockbuster Gladiator. It makes sense that Gibson looks towards Gladiator for inspiration, as it is one of the highest-rated films of Scott's career and has remained culturally relevant for years. In fact, the shot that Gibson is referring to was recreated in the recently released Gladiator II.

Mel Gibson Is Inspired By One Specific Shot In Gladiator

The Opening Shot Of Gladiator Is Iconic

Gibson recently explained why he loves the shot in Gladiatorwhich features Maximus running his hand through wheat. The story of Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general who served under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After Marcus Aurelius is betrayed and Maximus' wife and son are murdered, he becomes a gladiator and seeks revenge against the newly appointed Emperor Commodus. The cast of Gladiatorincludes Russell Crowe, Joaquin Pheonix, Connie Nielsen, and Djimon Hounsou.

In a recent interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Gibson explains that he loves this shot in Gladiator because it gauges an emotional reaction from viewers without being too overt. Gibson explains that he doesn't know why the shot works so well, but claims that it has always resonated with him. He then goes on to praise Scott more and stress what a talented visual storyteller he is. Read Gibson's full comments below:

I’m pretty average at most things, but I’m good at a couple of things. I know how to tell a story on film, I know how to do that. That’s a weird place to be, but I think a lot can be achieved by art and image and you can convey a lot without actually having to say it. You can do things to affect people emotionally or spiritually even without being overt.
I always like to reference just a shot, it’s in a Scott movie and you don’t know why it works or why it’s effective on some level, but it’s kind of a profound, effective shot. It’s that first shot in Gladiator where he’s running his hand over the wheat, with that music and stuff. Why does that work? I don’t know. You can’t explain it, but it works.
He knows how to shoot, and it’s a valid pursuit I think in storytelling if you can do that. Every time he goes out there, it’s eye candy. It’s a feast for the eyes.

Our Take On Mel Gibson's Favorite Gladiator Shot

Gladiator 2's Ending Recreated The Opening Of Gladiator

Maximus standing in a wheat field in his dream in Gladiator (2000)

The shot of Maximus running his hand through wheat is perhaps the most memorable shot from the first Gladiator movie. It has become such an iconic shot that it was even recreated for the ending of Gladiator II. Gibson's own movies include many iconic shots, so it is clear he has a good eye for cinematography. Gibson praising Gladiator further proves how influential Scott's work is, and that Gladiator remains one of the best films of his career.

Source: The Joe Rogan Experience