Oscar Loves... Swords and Sandals

This month, your friendly Oscarologists, Mark, Izzy and Vincent, discuss the Academy's penchant for historical epics.

Braveheart, directed by and starring Mel Gibson, tells the story of hero and warrior William Wallace, who leads the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against wily King Edward I played by Patrick McGoohan.

Director Ridley Scott - one of modern Hollywood's main purveyors of sword and sandal movies - gained a Best Director nomination for Gladiator, winning Best Picture. Russell Crowe stars as Maximus Decimus Meridius, general turned slave turned arena fighter, out for revenge again Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus. 

Thank you to Thomas Whitelaw for our intro music and Rachel Valentine Smith for our artwork. This episode was recorded remotely and so we apologise for any changes in sound quality present.