Concerns have been raised by John Mathieson, the director of photography for Ridley Scott’s upcoming film *Gladiator 2*, regarding Scott’s use of multicam techniques. Mathieson believes this approach compromises the visual composition and artistic intent of each shot, hinting at a broader issue of complacency in Scott’s directing style. Despite this critique, *Gladiator 2* is anticipated to perform well at the box office, with Scott continuing to explore new projects.
Concerns Raised by the Director of Photography for Gladiator 2
Ridley Scott’s cinematic journey, originating from his roots in 1937 in northeastern England, showcases a trajectory that, while impressive, isn’t entirely unique. His artistic education led him to the BBC, where he served as an assistant, director of photography, production designer, and eventually, director. Before his transition to feature films, he established a formidable presence in the advertising sector, a talent he continued to leverage throughout his career. It wasn’t long before Ridley Scott made his mark in Hollywood, with Alien being his second film and Blade Runner following closely behind as his third.
Scott’s filmography includes numerous cult classics, such as Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, American Gangster, The Martian, The Last Duel, and House of Gucci. Despite his successes, some of his movies, including Kingdom of Heaven, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and more recently, Napoleon, have faced criticism from viewers. Scott has often dismissed critiques from experts regarding his liberal interpretation of historical events, insisting that he approaches these subjects with the utmost seriousness.
Ridley Scott remains a compelling figure in cinema. With the highly anticipated Gladiator 2 debuting in November and already grossing over $300 million at the box office, the film is poised for success. While it may not surpass the accolades of its predecessor, the reception has been generally positive. However, this seemingly smooth trajectory hit a bump with the pointed remarks from John Mathieson, the film’s director of photography and a longtime collaborator of Scott’s, who expressed his belief that Scott has become complacent.
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Multicam Techniques: Efficiency or a Lack of Care?
According to reports from Écran Large, Ridley Scott has long favored shooting films using multiple cameras. This approach has raised concerns for Mathieson, who perceives it as indicative of a larger issue: the supposed efficiency gained from this method compromises the visual composition and the artistic intent behind each frame. Mathieson has suggested that Scott’s reliance on multicam technology allows for a hurried directorial process, shifting the burden of quality to the post-production team. He appears somewhat resigned to this reality, acknowledging that these are merely his views.
Such comments could potentially strain the longstanding collaboration between Scott and Mathieson, which has seen them work together on six different occasions. Nonetheless, Ridley Scott shows no signs of slowing down, with discussions underway for a biopic about the Bee Gees and a science fiction project titled The Dog Stars, inspired by the novel of the same name by Peter Heller, featuring actor Paul Mescal.