Ridley Scott’s cinematographer has accused the director of getting ‘lazy’ (Picture: Aidan Monaghan/Paramount)
Director Ridley Scott has been accused of ‘lazy’ filmmaking practices by Gladiator 2 cinematographer John Mathieson, sparking a debate over the evolution of Scott’s filmmaking style.
In an interview on the DocFix podcast earlier this year, Mathieson, who worked with Scott on both the original Gladiator and its sequel, expressed concern about the director’s alleged impatience and preference for speed over precision.
‘He’s quite impatient, so he likes to get as much as he can at once,’ Mathieson said.
According to the cinematographer, Scott’s reliance on shooting with multiple cameras has diminished the artistry and attention to detail that once characterised his films.
‘It’s really lazy,’ Mathieson boldly remarked.
‘It’s the CG [computer graphic] elements now of tidying-up, leaving things in shot, cameras in shot, microphones in shot, bits of set hanging down, shadows from booms. And they just said [on Gladiator 2], “Well, clean it up.”‘
He accused Scott of sacrificing artistry for efficiency (Picture: Aidan Monaghan/2024 Paramount Pictures)
Mathieson criticized this approach as a departure from the depth and care seen in Scott’s earlier works.
‘Look at his older films and getting depth into things was very much part of lighting. You can’t do that with a lot of cameras, but he just wants to get it all done.’
Scott’s alleged shift in methodology has drawn mixed reactions. While some fans remain loyal to the director’s work, others agree with Mathieson that the newer films lack the careful craftsmanship of Scott’s classics like Alien and Blade Runner.
It was also said that Scott just ‘generally covers stuff’ (Picture: JC Olivera/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
Mathieson also compared Scott’s current filmmaking to shopping in bulk: ‘It is this thing of “generally covering stuff” rather than me being the cook cooking you something wonderful in my kitchen downstairs. You just go to the supermarket and get one of those really big trolleys and just put your arm on the shelf and just chuck all that stuff in, and we’ll sort it out later.’
Despite these critiques, Scott’s films continue to draw audiences, with Gladiator 2 and Napoleon both generating significant buzz. However, reviews for both have been mixed.
Gladiator 2 did well at the box office despite mixed reviews (Picture: Paramount/Aidan Monaghan)
Despite the critiques, Gladiator 2 and other recent releases have reinvigorated the box office.
While the ‘Glicked’ effect – a term coined to describe the pairing of Gladiator 2 and Wicked – hasn’t matched the cultural phenomenon of last year’s Barbenheimer, both films have achieved impressive ticket sales.
Whether Scott’s evolving approach is a natural progression or a detriment to his artistry, one thing is certain: the legendary director remains a dominant force in Hollywood.
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Source:: Metro
