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Hollywood has got to stop making instantly forgettable movies like this. The first GLADIATOR, while full of clichés and predictable plot, was at least engaging. This sequel is just dull. The only redeemable feature was watching Denzel Washington enjoying himself in the role. The other actors were simply not interesting. Mescal in particular just doesn't have the screen presence of Crowe or Phoenix. And don't get me started on rhinos and sharks! I mean, I laughed out loud. The CGI was pretty bad as well. The opening scenes of the battle promised something but the rest just didn't deliver. I'm getting tired of walking out of the cinema and instantly forgetting the movie I just saw.

Harris does a good job portraying this tormented artist and doesn't flinch from showing what a pain in arse Pollock would have been to be around. But we don't really get to know him. He had been hospitalised for mental health problems and was undergoing psychoanalysis. And yet we don't really get any insight into the heart of his issues. Was it something from his childhood? Was his depression a chemical imbalance? What?? This is never really explored. We get to see his drinking and irrational behaviour but never any suggestion of the underlying cause. It's a significant weak point in this biopic.

Cosmo Jarvis, looking a bit like Tom Hardy, sounding a bit like Jeremy Irons and with a similar acting range as his predecessor, Richard Chamberlain (who delivered a wooden performance in the original Shogun with only three expressions - shocked, angry and confused). I almost stopped watching it bc of his miscasting in the central role. His overacting and voice just grated at every turn. I only binged it bc I was laid up in bed sick for several days.

This is an okay adaptation. No great progress from the original, which captivated audiences so much back in the 80s. The raving reviews are somewhat overboard. There was also a complete lack of chemistry between Blackthorne and Mariko, whose 'star crossed lovers' trope added much more to the original. It's an alright version of Clavel's potboiler, but no great shakes.