On Friday, you could hear the LA press kvelling over Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” But the New York types were skeptical. “Come on,” one said, “they’re in Hollywood. They have to like it.”
Paramount brought the film to New York last night so we could see it in an IMAX theater. And guess what? “Gladiator II” is the real deal, a big deal, a probable Oscar contender. Everyone is rooting for Scott, who turns 87 and has never won an Academy Award. He didn’t come last night for a Q&A but plenty of others did.
They included cast members Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen (the only holdover from the original “Gladiator”) and Fred Hechinger. In the audience we ran into a smattering of SAG members including Kim Cattrall, Ice T, Wendell Pierce, and the legendary Barbara Barrie. (She was chatting with Oscar and Emmy winning documentary filmmaker Milton Justice.)
Barrie, who’s 93 and moves like she’s 63, of course starred in “Breaking Away,” for which she received an Oscar nomination. She has a Tony nomination for the original cast of “Company.” She was the title character’s wife in “Barney Miller.” Barrie still has that twinkle in her eye. What a thrill to see her!
At the Q&A, Denzel — who was on his way to another screening and Q&A for “The Piano Lesson” — revealed that the for him playing “Othello” this winter on Broadway came from a conversation on the set of “GII.” Mescal — a current “It” guy in film — turns out to be a lovely chap, incredibly charming and very social. This movie is his first big studio venture, and he has no idea what’s about to happen to him. He told me he’s tired of the paps in London following him around. “How many pictures can they take?” he asked.
Connie Nielsen is reprising her role from 24 years ago. She looks the same. She’s gorgeous. She said, “I’m 60!” I did ask about plastic surgery, but she said being from Denmark has helped keep her young. Also she doesn’t live in Hollywood. Mescal plays her son in the movie, which doesn’t seem possible.
We have a lot indie movies vying for Oscar attention this season but just two big releases — this one, and “Dune Two.” This is the Year of Ridley Scott, so don’t discount that. Mescal is excellent in the film, but Denzel is off the charts.
I never run pictures of myself with celebrities, but here I am with Barbara Barrie. She made my month!
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