Braveheart (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Braveheart', starring & directed by Mel Gibson, is quite the Hollywood epic (lengthy, beautiful, brawny, & loud). Gibson plays William Wallace, a rebel hero of Scottish history whose legend is as factual as it is myth. In the 14th century, Wallace fought hard to unite his splintered people for Scotland's freedom from English invaders. He used his sword & stature to defeat the warriors of menacing British monarch, King Edward I (an enjoyably over-the-top Patrick McGoohan). It was he who'd declared himself King of Scotland after the former ruler's collapse. This is a long film (at nearly 3 hours), and it starts slowly. But by the midway point, & onward to its momentous climax, it becomes a really cool epic.
The 1st half of the film concentrates on Wallace's love for Murron (a very pretty Catherine McCormack). Their courtship is handled leisurely, not boringly. But I was a little anxious to see where the plot was going to go. The main plot kicks-in once political intrigue gets underway. Another young beauty enters William's life, France's Princess Isabelle (Sophie Marceau). Wallace gets some help from Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfayden). And eventually ... betrayals & war battles take over the exposition. But tragedy strikes Wallace on more than one occasion. And it is those tragedies which further inspires both he & all of Scotland's rejuvenated men to fight for pride, land, riches & revenge.
It's easy to praise Braveheart's spectacle. There's riveting action, fierce battles, & sweeping romance. This is just the type of epic adventure that appeals to me as a moviegoer. But there's something beneath the spectacle. There is ambition, intelligence, inspiration, heart, & grit. It's not as grand as the David Lean epics (Lawrence of Arabia's) of past eras. But there's a likeness to it. Braveheart's strengths have almost no boundaries. Historical inaccuracies aside, the script is solid; including strong dialogues. The direction is inspired (Gibson may earn an Oscar nom, if not the win). John Toll's (Legends of the Fall) cinematography is exceptional. The sets, costumes, make-up, & music (by James Horner) are all praise-worthy. Acting-wise, there is no weakness. And Gibson must again be singled out. He brings verisimilitude to the role, raw physicality, as well as his usual charisma.
Now, all that said, 'Braveheart' is not without its problems (for me, at least). The editing could have been tighter; as it encompasses several lagging spots. There are points where the 3 hour length is apparent. I also wish there was some humor injected into the film {somehow} to combat the heavy drama & romance. One last issue: the violence. Most of the action is great and, I usually don't mind a little gore. But some of the battles in the film are so brutal, so bloody, & so visceral that I began to feel like I was receiving the blows -- I wasn't wild about that feeling. And some of those aforementioned battles grow mightily repetitious, as well. Still, this doesn't tarnish the film that much. I think I enjoyed Rob Roy (another Scotland-based film from this year) a bit more. But 'Braveheart' is still a very good movie; showcasing glory & tragedy in equally thrilling portions.
The 1st half of the film concentrates on Wallace's love for Murron (a very pretty Catherine McCormack). Their courtship is handled leisurely, not boringly. But I was a little anxious to see where the plot was going to go. The main plot kicks-in once political intrigue gets underway. Another young beauty enters William's life, France's Princess Isabelle (Sophie Marceau). Wallace gets some help from Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfayden). And eventually ... betrayals & war battles take over the exposition. But tragedy strikes Wallace on more than one occasion. And it is those tragedies which further inspires both he & all of Scotland's rejuvenated men to fight for pride, land, riches & revenge.
It's easy to praise Braveheart's spectacle. There's riveting action, fierce battles, & sweeping romance. This is just the type of epic adventure that appeals to me as a moviegoer. But there's something beneath the spectacle. There is ambition, intelligence, inspiration, heart, & grit. It's not as grand as the David Lean epics (Lawrence of Arabia's) of past eras. But there's a likeness to it. Braveheart's strengths have almost no boundaries. Historical inaccuracies aside, the script is solid; including strong dialogues. The direction is inspired (Gibson may earn an Oscar nom, if not the win). John Toll's (Legends of the Fall) cinematography is exceptional. The sets, costumes, make-up, & music (by James Horner) are all praise-worthy. Acting-wise, there is no weakness. And Gibson must again be singled out. He brings verisimilitude to the role, raw physicality, as well as his usual charisma.
Now, all that said, 'Braveheart' is not without its problems (for me, at least). The editing could have been tighter; as it encompasses several lagging spots. There are points where the 3 hour length is apparent. I also wish there was some humor injected into the film {somehow} to combat the heavy drama & romance. One last issue: the violence. Most of the action is great and, I usually don't mind a little gore. But some of the battles in the film are so brutal, so bloody, & so visceral that I began to feel like I was receiving the blows -- I wasn't wild about that feeling. And some of those aforementioned battles grow mightily repetitious, as well. Still, this doesn't tarnish the film that much. I think I enjoyed Rob Roy (another Scotland-based film from this year) a bit more. But 'Braveheart' is still a very good movie; showcasing glory & tragedy in equally thrilling portions.