A few years ago, Ridley Scott told Empire Magazine that “Gladiator II” was “the best thing I’ve ever made” and confided to the AP, “I think it’s my best film.” When the time finally came to see the film, well, it wasn’t exactly a good one.
Suffice it to say, he’s at it again.
Scott is telling The Buyer that his upcoming “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” Has he suddenly forgotten what he said about “Gladiator II”?
There’s reason to be skeptical about “The Dog Stars,” which 20th Century Studios worryingly slotted during the very last week of August—the very last week of summer—a placement usually seen as a dumping ground before the fall contenders arrive.
As for Scott’s best film since “The Martian”? My pick would have to be “The Last Duel,” released in October 2021, a Rashomon-like historical drama starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer that recounts the same events through three conflicting perspectives. It deserved far more attention than it received during its theatrical run.
The “Last Duel” script was actually written by Affleck and Damon, alongside Nicole Holofcener. Maybe they should pen another one for Scott, whose other four films since “The Martian” include “House of Gucci,” “Napoleon,” “Gladiator II,” and “All the Money in the World.” They were costly films that underperformed.
Set after a deadly pandemic, “The Dog Stars” follows a pilot named Hig (Elordi), whose small comforts—his plane and dog—mirror Scott’s childhood coping mechanisms, while his interactions with guarded survivor Bangley (Brolin) and hopeful medic Cima (Qualley) explore why people keep living when the world seems lost.
“The Dog Stars,” releasing on August 28, stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong. It cost around $100 million to produce.