Braveheart (1995)
Directed by Mel Gibson
Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against English rule.
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22 films that influenced Braveheart
What critics say influenced Braveheart
Lacking Kevin Costner-liberal-revisionist tendencies or Spartacus screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's overt politics, outside of celebrating violence, freedom, liberty, and the rights of the people against the uncaring nobles -- all as extremely broad and nonspecific concepts -- Braveheart offers no real vision.
Like Kirk Douglas' slave leader in "Spartacus," Wallace unites and inspires disorganized troops, brings out their best qualities, constantly surprises his decadent enemy by catching them off-guard, and is crucified for his efforts.
As the summer's large-scale testosterone thrillers blast their way into view with all the subtlety of Molotov cocktails, it's worth recalling that the prototype of the modern action roller coaster, Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, featured Cary Grant getting crop-dusted and dangling from the presidential nostrils of Mount Rushmore and that the movie was able to unleash these delirious, world-spinning-out-of-control antics with elegance and wit, and with a spirit of sheer play.
Through the joyous rendering of Mexican culture and traditions, along with touches of magical realism, director Gregory Nava ("El Norte") personalizes the family saga while tapping into universal themes.
Like Charlton Heston's selfless warrior in "El Cid," Wallace is a noble subject who needs a nobler king than the would-be Scottish monarch played here by Angus McFadyen.
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(Who can forget the way he ripped into the word scanners in "Scanners"?)
In recent years, Jeff Daniels' remarkable performance in "Gettysburg" came closest to demonstrating what it takes for one fragile, frightened leader to defeat his own doubts and inspire his men to risk all in combat.
At moments like this, the blood, movement, and sheer vastness of Braveheart evoke the violent excitement you remember from movies like Alexander Nevsky and The Seven Samurai.
And anyone who has seen the magnificent battle scenes in " Braveheart " will be almost embarrassed for director director Jerry Zucker ("Ghost," "Ruthless People"), whose confusingly filmed battles do little to enhance a slow-moving story.
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As far as epics go, this one is not as good as Lawrence of Arabia (what is?), but more in the realm of Spartacus or Dances With Wolves.
The film also delivers its share of romance (with Wallace’s wife, and also as he seduces the enemy Princess, played by Sophie Marceau), and there’s a lot said about honor as opposed to treachery, but ultimately this rather simplistic and brutal film owes more to “Conan the Barbarian” than to “Lawrence of Arabia”.
If The Wind and the Lion or Robin Hood (MGM's not Costner's) or Spartacus are your kind of films, Braveheart will delight.