Review: 'Gladiator II' cinematographer criticizes Ridley Scott's 'lazy' directing

The making of "Gladiator II" has been overshadowed by behind-the-scenes criticism from its own cinematographer, John Mathieson. In a notable interview following the film's 2024 premiere, Mathieson openly described director Ridley Scott as "lazy."

Mathieson's critique focused on Scott's directing approach, alleging that the veteran filmmaker consistently settled for a minimal number of takes for each scene. According to the cinematographer, Scott would typically shoot only two or three takes before moving on, apparently relying on post-production to address any shortcomings.

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lazy

This approach, Mathieson suggested, indicated a lack of effort on Scott's part during the actual filming process. The implication is that the visual quality and execution of the film may have been compromised by this method, with the burden of correction shifted to the post-production phase.

While Scott is a prolific and acclaimed director, this criticism from a key member of his crew offers a rare glimpse into potential challenges on set. The comments have brought Mathieson significant attention, albeit for reasons beyond his direct contributions to the film's cinematography.

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Scott consistently settled for two or three takes of each scene and then relied on post-production to fix the rest.