Gladiator II is the long-awaited sequel, nearly a quarter-century later, to one of the most acclaimed and beloved films in Ridley Scott’s filmography, the original Gladiator. With this background, and following an uneven streak for the director including House of Gucci and Napoleon, there was a lot riding on this second installment, which manages to deliver, though not innovate. The story, set decades after the original, follows a Numidian warrior named Hanno (Paul Mescal), who is forced to fight as a gladiator when his North African kingdom is conquered by the Roman general Acacius (Pedro Pascal). However, the Roman Empire is in conflict due to the corrupt rule of two twin emperors, and the true lineage of Hanno, Acacius' affiliations, and the ambitions of the mysterious slave trader Macrinus (Denzel Washington) come into play. The narrative structure is almost identical, and while Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa introduce different perspectives on the nature of power, at its core, this is another revenge story similar to the first. However, it’s just as spectacular, if not more so, than the original, so if you’re a fan of the classic, you’re almost certain to enjoy the sequel.
For an hour-long run time, 'Creatures of God' only crawls. It mostly shows what the daily routine is like in a small fishing village in Scotland, with the viewer's gaze mainly focused on a moving family nucleus. Young Brian (Paul Mescal) has come home after months away for work, and he isn't received in the way he expected: although his mother (Emily Watson) treats him kindly, his father does not want him there. Things get worse around the 50 minute mark of the movie: a crime occurs in the village directly affecting this family, and a dilemma arises for the mother. What should her attitude be? From there, directors Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer ('The Fits') plunge this village into a typical tension-filled suspense film, bringing up interesting questions about ethics, family, and guilt.
Marital drama and science fiction come together in 'Foe,' a film directed by Garth Davis (Lion: A Long Way Home), based on the novel by Iain Reid, and starring Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and the always impeccable Saoirse Ronan (Little Women). The story, set in an apocalyptic 2065, follows a couple, Hen and Junior, leading a mundane life until a stranger appears at their door with a surprising proposition: to participate in the OuterMore space colony, while a robotic replica of one of them stays on Earth to live with their spouse. Despite having a somewhat slow pace, the film presents interesting ideas about human identity and the search for meaning in an increasingly dehumanized world, like a blend between the powerful classic "Never Let Me Go" and an episode of Black Mirror.