Costumes

Costumes and Their Influence

Costumes are necissary tools to help further how the audience views a character. Whether it is the color of the garment or the sillouette, clothing is the first thing most viewers eyes go to when first being introduced to a character.

The Final Scene

In one of the final scenes where Commodus stabs Maximus, their costumes show their very interesting dynamic. Throughout the film Commodus is constantly feeling inferior to Maximus and in this scene the costumes do a great way of showing that. Though white is used as a color to show virtuous and innocence in a character, we see Commodus wearing the color in their final showdown. This goes to further the concept that Commodus feels inferior to Maximus. Maximus in a simple cloth is still more respected then he will ever be. This costume is his last attemt to show everyone that he is better than Maximus and is worthy of his position of emperor. He wants to gain the love and support of Rome over Maximus even though he knows he is not fit . His unnatrualness in his final all white outfit can help set the scene for him trying to be someone that he is not.

Lucilla's Wardrobe

Unlike most sword and sandal movies, Lucilla's wardrobe is very modest. Much different from Elizabeth Taylor in "Cleopatra," all of Lucillas outfits are adorned with drapery and a high neckline. The directors choice to not to sexualize her with her wadrobe can very clearly seperate her from most of the female leads in outdated sword and sandal movies. Her not needing to be overtly sexual and making her desirable without showing skin gives a modern edge to this film. The use of different fabric textures and jewlery also help give her a royal feel compared to the other women in this movie. Since she is one of the only women in this film her colorful wardrobe can also set her apart from any background character.

Commodus' Wardrobe

In typical villian fashion, most of Commodus' outfits are very dark and dreary. He is mostly seen in jewl tones, which could be seen as him enbracing his royal lineage. But unlike Lucilla, his royal presence does not come naturally. When he wears darker colors and clunky armor, it feels almost as if he is putting on a costume. One of the reasons for this could be because in all of the roles he is taking on, he is not meant for them. He is not meant to be emperor, as he only is because he killed his father, and he is not meant to be a gladiator (as we see when he loses to Maximus even after he was stabbed). Commodus' unnatural and akward feeling is help projected to the audience by his wardrobe.

Maximus' Wardrobe

When looking at Maximus' wardrobe, the director did a very good job of using his clothes to fit him as a character. Because Maximus yearns for a simple life with his family, that is reflected by his wardrobe. Throughout the film he is usually in very simple armor or a cloth toga, which sets him apart from the materialistic Commodus. Even once he returned to Rome and was given flashier armor, he was still connected to the simplicity he wanted by relating the two horses on his armor to the two horses he had at his home. He does not need to hide behind clothing as Commodus does because he is a strong presence, and by using simple clothing that only makes him and his charisma shine through more.

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