My Friend and Screen Acting Tutor, Ruggero Dalla Santa gives his thoughts here on one of the most powerful cinematic scenes ever.
I thought Joaquin Phoenix was immense in Gladiator, and Ruggero has picked exactly the scene that I would have done. The first time I saw it, my heart broke for Commodus, who only wanted his Father to love him, and to feel himself worthy of that love. I have said many times that great Actors can tell me what their character is thinking and feeling with very little physical action, and Phoenix does all that here. With the slightest of facial movement, you see his character in a moment of terrible personal torture. The only issue I would question Ruggero on is the incidental music, which I think can be very powerful on screen, and was here.
That final line of dialogue: "I would butcher the whole World, if you would only love me", is truly heartbreaking.
I think it was Stanislavski who said: "if you are playing a bad character, try to find a little good in him", (and vice versa). And in a strange way, this is a great example of that; as we watch this heartbroken child turn into a monster later in the film.
If like me, your first love is acting for camera, I can highly recommend following Ruggero's channels...
I thought Joaquin Phoenix was immense in Gladiator, and Ruggero has picked exactly the scene that I would have done. The first time I saw it, my heart broke for Commodus, who only wanted his Father to love him, and to feel himself worthy of that love. I have said many times that great Actors can tell me what their character is thinking and feeling with very little physical action, and Phoenix does all that here. With the slightest of facial movement, you see his character in a moment of terrible personal torture. The only issue I would question Ruggero on is the incidental music, which I think can be very powerful on screen, and was here.
That final line of dialogue: "I would butcher the whole World, if you would only love me", is truly heartbreaking.
I think it was Stanislavski who said: "if you are playing a bad character, try to find a little good in him", (and vice versa). And in a strange way, this is a great example of that; as we watch this heartbroken child turn into a monster later in the film.
If like me, your first love is acting for camera, I can highly recommend following Ruggero's channels...
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