Genre: Historical/Biography/Epic
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: John Malone & Chad Taylor
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Jeremy Irons, Olivia DeJonge, Cillian Murphy, Steve Coogan, Uma Thurman, Douglas Booth, Daisy Edgar-Jones
Plot: The Year is 69 BC. Gaius Julius Caesar (Leonardo DiCaprio) is in Cadiz, Hispania. Taking a break from his lowly political duties as quaestor of Hispania, Caesar wanders around an elaborate temple dedicated to the mythical Greek hero, Hercules. Among all the statues of ancient mythical figures, Caesar suddenly stops in his tracks. He looks up at an impressive statue that he recognizes as Alexander the Great. Caesar reads the inscription on the statue, and becomes frustrated. He loudly bemoans how his own achievements have come nowhere close to those of Alexander, who had nearly conquered the globe by the time he was Caesar's age. Caesar kneels in front of the great statue and closes his eyes. He quietly promises himself to reach the kind of greatness accomplished by Alexander in his time. Content with the moment he has had with the monumental statue, Caesar then orders his men to rip down the statue of Alexander the Great. Caesar's men wrap a rope around Alexander and pull the statue to the ground, with the marble figure breaking into dozens of pieces when it hits the ground. Caesar smiles to himself.
9 years later, in 60 BC, a more battle-hardened Caesar is victorious on the battlefields of Hispania. He is surrounded by his men and they proclaim him Imperator, a title reserved for the best Roman commanders. He is honored by this and knows that it means he can apply for a triumph, which would be a ceremony in Rome to celebrate his glory. However, in his chambers, he starts to consider his options. If he is to accept this honor, it would mean that he has to remain a soldier and not be allowed to re-enter Rome until his ceremony. However, he needs to be a private citizen to run for consulship, which is his true political ambition at the moment.
Never one to turn down a celebration of his glory, Caesar attempts to have his cake and eat it, too. He corresponds with the Roman senate about allowing him to stand in absentia - meaning that he could run for consulship from abroad and return for his triumph upon being elected. In Rome, the senate receives this request and it is scoffed at by Cato the Younger (Cillian Murphy), a by-the-book republican senator with a lot of political sway. He and Caesar have never been on the same page their entire life so Cato uses this opportunity to block Caesar’s request. In Hispania, Caesar reads the response and can only crack a smile. He rips up their message before rallying together his troops for one final speech. He tells them that he is honored by their loyalty to him but that he will have to respectfully decline their title of Imperator. The time is right for him to return to Rome and enact positive change in the Roman republic. His army toasts him as he rides off for home.
One of the first things that Juilius does upon arriving in town is visit his 17-year-old daughter Julia (Olivia DeJonge). It has been a little while since he has last seen her and he is taken aback by how much she is beginning to resemble him (the striking blue eyes, in particular). As they walk the streets of the city, he tells her about life in Hispania as she raves about life in Rome and the interactions she has had with the man she is to be married to, Servilius. He smiles at hearing this, although he does feel a little hesitant about fully letting go of his only child (by marriage). He tells her about his own plans to run in the upcoming election, which she is glad to hear as it means he will be staying here for the year. As they walk, they pass a girl (Daisy Edgar-Jones) who exchanges waves with Julia. This girl’s beauty catches Caesar’s eye and he asks who she is, with Julia telling him it is Calpurnia. His ears perk up, asking if she is the daughter of powerful senator Calpurnius Piso. Julia confirms.
At the Roman Forum, the heart of Rome's government, Pompey Magnus (Russell Crowe) makes a plea to the Senate on behalf of his soldiers. He describes the great successes he and his army have had for the greater good of the Roman Empire. Marcus Crassus (Jeremy Irons), the richest man in all of Rome and the unofficial leader of the Senate, interrupts Pompey, asking him to get to his point already. Pompey requests that some Roman farmlands be distributed to his veteran soldiers when they retire from their service. Crassus scoffs at this request. He stands up and proclaims that if they were to give all of Magnus' men land, they'd also have to justifiably give Julius Caesar's men plots of farmland as well since his conquests could nearly rival those of Pompey. This comment angers Pompey, who clearly states that no general can rival his dominance. Crassus, now addressing the Senate itself, says that if they go around giving away all of the empire's farmland they will not be able to grow enough grain to avoid potential food shortages. Pompey is asked to leave the Senate chambers while they deliberate. Once Pompey has left the room, Crassus jokes about how long they should make Pompey wait before they reject his request. Pompey is informed of their decision and storms off, furious, cursing Crassus' name.
Caesar goes to meet with Marcus Cicero (Steve Coogan) at his palatial home on Palatine Hill. Cicero greets Caesar jovialy and offers the finest wines and cheeses available in the region. Caesar declines the hospitality, insisting that his visit is business in nature. Cicero lounges in front of Caesar and tells him to get to the point. Caesar proposes joining forces politically to control the Senate. Cicero laughs at the idea, stating that two men alone cannot control the Senate. Caesar says that is why he believes that the two of them could propose the idea to someone with more individual power such as Crassus. Cicero tells Caesar that his idea sounds more like a coup than an honest political maneuver and that it would be an insult to the Republic. Caesar accepts Cicero's stance. As Caesar turns to leave, Cicero makes a remark that Crassus already has enough on his plate dealing with Pompey and his potential machinations to be bothered with such arrangements.
Inspired by his meeting with Cicero, Caesar goes directly to the office of Crassus. Caesar is greeted with skepticism with Crassus asking if Caesar has stopped by to repay the considerable debts he owes. Caesar proposes that Crassus backs him for a consulship, and that if they then formed an alliance with someone like Pompey they could be the most powerful men in the entire Republic. Crassus ponders the idea for a long moment before finally asking how Caesar's plan would benefit him. Crassus points out that he is already rich and powerful, and thus does not stand to gain as much from such an arrangement as Caesar or Pompey. Caesar tells Crassus that the only thing he is missing, the only thing his wealth has never bought him is popularity with the people. Caesar says that Crassus' money can only get him so much control, but an alliance with figures more beloved by the plebeian class like Pompey and Caesar himself can earn him the love of the people. Crassus expresses interest in the plan, in theory, but points out that he and Pompey have been at each other's throats for many years, and doubts Pompey's willingness to work with him. Caesar tells Crassus to let him worry about convincing Pompey to join them.
At his home, Pompey paces furiously after the latest Senate hearing. His guards inform him that Caesar is there to meet him. The two share a courteous relationship as two successful military leaders, if not a bit of a friendly rivalry for that purpose as well. Pompey says that it is nice to see Julius back home after so long - he has noticed his family around Rome and that he has already started to leave a good legacy (in reference to Julia). Caesar takes this compliment and tells Pompey that he is sorry to hear about his wife - referring to Pompey’s third wife cheating on him months earlier. He tells Pompey that he heard about the Senate’s disrespect towards Pompey and his men. He advises Pompey to take a step back and consider who his audience was - a bunch of politicians who wish they could have military glory but couldn’t so they took out their jealousy on Pompey’s army. This is clearly music to Pompey’s ears but he is curious about where Caesar is going. Julius smiles at this opportunity and asks why they - the people who are actually respected by the citizens of Rome - can’t be the ones making those decisions. Seeing a hunger in Pompey’s eyes, he lays out the proposal of an alliance with Crassus on the table.
Pompey stands up and is adamant that the answer is no. He now feels like Caesar is disrespecting him and orders him to leave. Caesar shows some vulnerability, begging Pompey to hear him out. He starts to give him the same spiel that he gave Crassus but Pompey, now seething, steps up into Caesar’s face. He says that Caesar knows about how that Senate hearing went so he knows the humiliation he received from the pompous Crassus. That jealousy Caesar mentioned? Crassus is the prime example, feeling his own military career was eclipsed by Pompey’s. Caesar’s mind is racing before Pompey forces him out. His eyes widen as he says that he has something he can offer Pompey to sweeten the deal. His daughter Julia is at the right age for marriage and he is looking for someone to offer her hand to. Pompey, coming off of separation, would be an ideal choice. Pompey is intrigued by this but points out that she is already engaged. Caesar says that this was done when he was not in Rome and that she would understand if plans changed. Pompey says that that may have some repercussions but...the offer is tempting. Caesar leads him to a garden where they can see Julia and her friends taking a walk in a city. After a moment of thought, Pompey tells Caesar that he has a deal but that it is on his shoulders to make it work.
Julius is hesitant to deliver this news to his daughter. He contemplatively approaches her chambers, rehearsing his words. He tells her of the proposal that she marry Pompey instead of Servilius. He sees her eyes widen and tries to reword his phrasing but she is already irate. He tells her that he needs her to do this while she is soon in tears and gets up to run to the door (presumably to see her ex-fiance). Caesar blocks her from exiting and pleads with her to listen to him. She points out the hypocrisy of this situation as he often told her growing up about him having to break off his engagement as a teenager because his fiancee was on the other side of the political aisle in the midst of a Civil War. He lets this sink in for a moment before telling her that this situation is different. He is putting her in a position that will not only make her happy, but the people of Rome as well. He hugs her and tells her that he will always have her best interests at heart for as long as he lives. Still in tears, she accepts the hug as there is no one she trusts more in this world than her father.
Caesar visits the home of Servilia (Uma Thurman), a widow of considerable wealth, Cato's half-sister, and Servilius's mother. There is a long silence between the two as they reckon with seeing each other for the first time in years. The tension is broken when Caesar places his hand atop of Servilia's, prompting her to tell him that she almost forgot what he felt like. A smile sneaks up on his face. We cut to them naked in bed after having sex. She strokes her hand through his hair as they exchange stories of their affair from their younger years. While he is hesitant to break the bliss of the moment, he tells her that he has some unfortunate news to deliver. His daughter has decided to break off her engagement with her son. Servilia, keenly aware of Caesar's cunning ways, is immediately suspicious of this. He tells her that this is a case of lost love, no political connections whatsoever. She angrily puts back on her clothing as she points out the irony of him talking about "lost love" in this moment. She is clearly not happy with this news and orders him to leave. As he does, he tells her that he will be back to see her and that he hopes that this can continue but she can't get herself to look at him.
At the Forum, Cicero and Cato take a walk as they discuss the arrival of Caesar. Cato is visibly annoyed at what he sees as aggressive move being made by his rival since his return. Cicero is slightly amused by this since Cato only knows about the denial of the imperatorship and the rumors surrounding Pompey. Cicero offers his little nugget of information: Caesar came to him to try to form a triumvirate with him and Crassus. Cato is astonished to hear this, knowing the power that something like that would have. Cicero says that he denied him, of course, but Cato points out that he could be trying to pull the same thing with Pompey now. Cicero understands the concerns but points out the grudge between Crassus and Pompey that they saw play out on the Senate floor.
A montage begins as we see the process from Julia’s betrothal to Pompey to marriage. Pompey leads a wedding procession through the city to Julia’s home (unlike Caesar’s wedding which is a more private affair). There is a pomp and circumstance as Rome’s citizens look on to the procession - which is not lost on Caesar, who takes in the scornful looks of Cicero, Cato, and other senators. To them, this very public procession is a grandiose taunt of the rumored triumvirate. When Pompey arrives to Julia’s home, we see her for the first time in her white tunic, looking angelic. There is a twinkle in Pompey’s eye as he looks on endearingly at his new wife. Caesar smiles on, knowing that his new alliance has been sealed. That same look does not translate to Caesar’s own wedding to Calpurnia, which he seems rather disinterested in and is more about scoring the support of Calpurnia’s uncle.
Thanks to the public and political support of Crassus and Pompey, Caesar is elected consul. To show his appreciation to Pompey, Caesar announces his intention to give plots of lands to the poor and those who have served in the military. His announcement comes with one major caveat though, that he would not introduce his land reform bill without the support of the elite optimates. In front of Roman senate, Caesar reads his bill to the senate, telling each that he is open to amendments if they have objections. Cato eagerly listens, looking for holes in the bill to criticize. He interrupts Caesar and asks who he thinks is going to pay for such a costly bill. Pompey, who had been sitting off in the wings, interjects that the bill will be financed from his own war victories and would not cost Rome or the optimates a sliver of gold. Cato slumps down in his seat, embarrassed by the solid response to his question. When Caesar is finished, the senate votes on the bill. Cato is the lone dissenting voice, with every other member of the senate voting in favor of the bill. Cato storms out of the forum. Cato meets with Cicero, and together they try to figure out a way to get the bill vetoed. Cicero laments that the bill is going to prove too popular with the commoners to veto and that they may need to take drastic measures.
Caesar and Pompey leave the senate chambers and announce the passing of the bill to a large group of plebeians and soldiers waiting outside for the news, who become ecstatic at the prospect of becoming landowners. They cheer loudly for Caesar. Suddenly, a man runs toward Caesar with a dagger drawn. Guards stop the man and arrest him. Caesar and Pompey are informed that they should leave the area promptly, but Caesar refuses. He addresses the crowd and gives a speech about how those in wealth and power have clearly gone so far as to try to kill him to keep the plebeian class in a position beneath them. He assures them that he believes every man has the right to property and the ability to feed their families. The crowd goes berserk, chanting "Caesar!" repeatedly. Cicero and Cato watch the scene from the top of the senate steps in anger. That night, Cicero approaches the would-be assassin in jail and asks him who sent him to kill Caesar. The man tells Cicero that Cato hired him to carry out the act. Cicero pulls out a dagger and stabs the man in the stomach.
Cicero and Cato meet to confer about new plans to get rid of Caesar since their plan to kill him didn't work. As they brainstorm various plots, Cicero proposes that rather than continuing to try to kill Caesar or turn the people against him, that they should instead focus on simply getting him away from Rome for a while and let the fervor of support from the common people die down. Cato ponders aloud what the senate would even have the power to do, and Cicero suggests they award him a lucrative governorship to keep him busy and away from Rome.
Caesar is called to the senate chambers where he is presented with a governorship of Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul by the Senate. Cato makes a point of congratulating Caesar on the position and wishes him well on the five-year term as governor. Caesar is initially wary at leaving Rome for such a long term, but Crassus and Pompey suggest that there are many riches to be had in the lands of Gaul and that it could only increase the power of their Triumvirate. Caesar is finally convinced by them that conquering Gaul will increase their power and the riches earned would surely cover any outstanding debt he has to anyone in Rome.
Caesar returns home and informs his wife Calpurnia that he has been selected to govern Gaul and will be gone for long stretches at a time. She is visibly disappointed, but he assures her that it will be a financially advantage position and should set them up for generations with the kinds of riches that will be at his disposal. Caesar promises Calpurnia that he will commute back to Rome as much as reasonably possible and will write her letters. Caesar then gives his wife a kiss and tells her that he has some business to conduct at the forum. Instead of going to the forum though, Caesar goes to see Servilia. Caesar goes to bed with Servilia and spends the night with her.
Caesar and his army have set up camp in the mountainous Helvetii region of Gaul to corner them in against the mountains. A Helvetii messenger arrives to tell the Romans that they don't want war with the Romans, but they also do not plan to simply give themselves over to the Roman army. Caesar sends the messenger away and tells his men that they will strike in the morning. In the morning, Caesar and his legions attack the Helvetii settlements, easily overtaking the unprepared Helvetii. During battle, Caesar watches a young soldier, Mark Antony (Douglas Booth), as he aggressively and relentlessly slaughters dozens of enemies single-handedly. After the battle, while the soldiers are searching the remains of the village for riches, Caesar calls Antony over to him. He tells Antony that he reminds him of a younger version of himself and offers him a position as one of his generals. Mark Antony happily accepts the promotion. Caesar retires to his tent and begins writing of the exploits of their battle that day.
Julia walks through the city with her close confidants, talking about her relationship with Pompey. She admits that, given their age difference, she didn’t expect to like him but that his kindness has proved her wrong. She suddenly feels uneasy and her friends rush to check on her. Meanwhile, Pompey meets with Crassus and they share worries about the clout that Caesar is gaining through his military victories. Pompey has a suspicion that Caesar is using his writing to conflate his image and accomplishments. Crassus suggests they meet with him and plot where the triumvirate goes from here. When Pompey returns home, Julia is there waiting for him. She has a smile on her face and informs him that she is pregnant. Pompey has the biggest smile on his face and gives her a kiss. He tells her that she will get her the best midwife in Rome. He says that their marriage is making him re-think his commitment to politics and that he wants to put his all into his family.
After some correspondence, Crassus and Pompey meet with Caesar in Lucca - the southernmost town of Gaul. Aware that things are not as initially strong as they were, the trio try to plot their path forward. Unlike their initial meeting, it is now Crassus who is acting as the main mediator. They decide that Crassus and Pompey will re-up their consulship and both embark on military campaigns in their new districts - Syria for Crassus and Hispania for Pompey. Pompey is actually non-committal to this, however, as he admits that he is growing content with domestic life so he would like to rule Hispania in absentia. Caesar senses worry that Pompey’s indecisiveness is going to fragment all of their power, he gets angry and tells him that he needs him to show passion. This is when Pompey decides to break the news to Caesar that Julia is pregnant. There is a beat where Caesar’s reaction is unclear but he smiles and congratulates Pompey with a firm handshake. Crassus congratulates them both and tells them that he knows this will only strengthen their alliance going forward.
Caesar returns to Gaul and finds that his legions have taken over several more villages while he was away with Mark Antony at the helm. The men ransack the villages and set fire to them once they are done. Caesar tells them to continue the good work as they continue their path toward the northeastern region of Gaul, inhabited by the Eburone tribes. He tells the men that the Eburones have more manpower than the forces they've already decimated, so they need to be ready. In the morning, Caesar and his legion of soldiers pack up the spoils of war and prepare for to continue their conquest of Gaul.
Since they basically already have control, the re-election of Crassus and Pompey's consulship is only a formality and they finalize their new 5-year reigns. Crassus leaves for Syria - eager to win the support of the people through military glory like Caesar. Pompey stays in Rome to rule Hispania from afar and be with his pregnant wife. This development, along with Caesar’s writings, is the final straw for Cicero and Cato. To them, this alliance is clear as day and working to destabilize the republic. Cicero informs his colleague that he has a piece of information that might damage Caesar’s man-of-the-people image. While most of Caesar’s successful legislation was driven by public support, he also passed tax cuts that - unbeknownst to most - specifically benefited Crassus’s equestrian business. As such, the duo take a page out of their rival’s book and try to plant seeds amongst the public. It is not wholly successful but there is a vocal minority who begin to voice their discontent about the powerful alliance.
As Pompey travels to the Forum, he is met by a small angry mob that represent this minority. They bombard him with accusations of betraying the public. He is surprised by this as he still assumed that the Triumvirate had universal support amongst the people. It grows slightly violent when one of the protesters cuts his own hand and symbolically smears the blood on Pompey’s robe. While a younger Pompey might have grown violent, he instead takes off the stained toga and tells his servant to take it back to his home as he continues on to the Forum. Julia is relaxing in their garden when she hears the servant approach. As she looks out to him, she sees her husband’s bloody toga from afar. She cries out upon seeing this and goes into shock - assuming that Pompey has been stabbed. This causes her to fall down in pain and, upon hearing this, the servant rushes over to help her. He realizes that she is going into premature labor.
Pompey receives news of this from the Forum and rushes back home immediately. They are both in tears and he holds her hand tightly as the midwife arrives. Pompey sees the excessive amount of blood and has to step away as he is now going to shock as well. His ears ring as cries are faintly heard before dying out. The midwife approaches him and tells him that Julia has died. He goes to Julia and falls to his knees, placing his head in lap as he lets out a cry of anguish. He asks about the baby as well and the midwife informs him that he passed away, too. “He?,” Pompey asks and the midwife confirms that it was a boy. He struggles to regain his composure but, once he does, he knows what he must write to Caesar and inform him of the news.
At dawn, a messenger arrives in Caesar's camp with Pompey's message. When Caesar reads about the death of his daughter, he howls an agonizing scream that wakes the entire camp. Caesar then begins trashing his tent, destroying everything in his sight. Once there is nothing left the break in his tent, Caesar catches his breath for a moment and goes out into the cold morning air. He orders all of his men awake at once. He announces to his men that they are going to attack the Eburones now rather than wait for later. He tells everyone that he doesn't want a single Eburone life left, not a single hut or structure still standing. Their job that morning is to completely decimate the enemy and erase them from existence.
As the sun is still rising, Caesar and his men catch the Eburones still sleeping. Caesar personally leads the charge into battle as the Roman army catches the Eburone tribe still waking. Caesar channels all of his anger and grief into battle as he slaughters one Gallic soldier after another. At the end of a long day of bloodshed, Caesar stands in the middle of a battlefield surrounded by the lifeless bodies of his enemy. His face and body are drenched in the blood of fallen foes. Victorious on the battlefield, Caesar kneels down and sheds a tear for the loss of his daughter.
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