Susan Granger’s review of “Those About to Die” (Peacock)
Director Roland Emmerich recruited Anthony Hopkins to head the cast and created a cutting-edge virtual production to replicate ancient Rome for his first television series “Those About to Die,” streaming on the Peacock network.
This brutal, bloody sword-and-sandal epic explores despicable trickery and feverish gambling in the world of Circus Maximus chariot racing and, although it’s derivative, disjointed, repetitive and somewhat incoherent, it should whet your appetite for Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Gladiator 2,” scheduled for release later this year.
Ailing, elderly Vespasian (Hopkins) is the last Roman emperor to reign in the Year of Four Emperors, ruling from 69 to 79 AD. His rival sons are politically naive Titus (Tom Hughes), a celebrated soldier with a Judean consort (Lara Wolf), and sadistic, scheming Domitian (Jojo Macari). Both are waiting to inherit his crown.
Yet the antihero/protagonist is manipulative Tenex (Iwan Rheon), a ruthless entrepreneur who runs Rome’s most lucrative gambling tavern. His ambition is to form his own chariot-racing faction, placing him in direct conflict with various patrician families; the champion chariot driver, arrogant Scorpus (Dimitri Leoniadas), helps Tenex ‘rig’ races.
Travelling from North Africa, there’s Cala (Sara Martins), a determined Numidian mother working to free her enslaved daughters, Aura and Jula (Kyshan Wilson, Alicia Edogamhe), and brave, lion-tracking son Kwame (Moe Hashim), who is forced to fight as a gladiator with his Northman friend Viggo (Johannes Haukur Johannesson)..
Barely differentiated are the Spanish horse trainers (Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Goncalo Almeida), eager for acceptance at the Circus Maximus.
Based on Daniel P. Mannix’s 1958 novel, it’s adapted by Robert Rodat (“Saving Private Ryan”) and directed by Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day,” “The Day After Tomorrow”) with Marco Kreuzpaintner (“Bodies”).
Despite pretentions of prestige filmmaking, the predictable, superficial characterizations and pulpy, violent plot are peppered with gratuitous sex and rampant nudity, although there may be a correlation with today’s sports fandom and online gambling.
Filmed at Rome’s legendary Cinecitta Studios, it’s a virtual production (VP), a relatively new technology that replicates the spectacular outdoor racing venue. “The artifice is what makes it entertaining – and profitable,” notes Domitian.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Those About to Die” is a gruesome, gory 5 – with all 10 episodes now streaming on Peacock.
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