Year: 1995
Director: Mel Gibson
Country: US
Language: English
As a Scottish Canadian it was pretty much mandatory to watch Mel Gibson's Braveheart in order to "understand my heritage". The film concerned the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296-1357), a century of conflict regarding Scotland's desire to be independent from England. My ancestors (probably) participated in this battle & thus I am automatically compelled to root for the protagonist of the picture, William Wallace (Mel Gibson).
When his secret bride is executed for assaulting an English soldier who tried to rape her, Sir William Wallace begins a revolt against King Edward I of England.
Is Braveheart historically accurate? Hell no. It's likely Mel Gibson's most egregious work in terms of accuracy. What the film does offer is classic Gibson religious imagery/allegory and an astounding amount of visceral violence. Crafted with precision and told with composure, the expertly staged brutal battles give us a good idea of what gaining independence meant to the Scottish.
The medieval set pieces come alive in meticulous detail. Cinematography is spot-on, applying right techniques to amplify the picture's most emotional and desperate moments. James Horner's intimate score enhances Mel Gibson's imposing screen presence and creates an atmosphere of great struggles and even greater triumphs.
While Braveheart is distorted history and borderline propaganda, it still proves to be an entertaining picture and one of the 1990's best "Best Picture" winners. Has Cinema ever incorporated the act of mooning someone so well? The answer is simply "no".
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