Day 99 - Braveheart



Day 99            Braveheart [1995]
                          
Screenplay                    Randall Wallace
Director                         Mel Gibson
Cinematography            John Toll
Music                            James Horner
Leads                            Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson, Angus Macfadyen, Peter Hanly, David O’Hara, Brian Cox
Production                     Icon Productions, The Ladd Company

IMDb                                8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes                77%

Often voted one of the worst films to win an Academy Award Gibson’s Braveheart surely reduced many patriots to tears. As you can probably tell from my intensely Scottish name, I have roots up there, so from minute one I was drawn in. The incredible sound track from James Horner and the London Symphonic Orchestra, and the sweeping aerial shots of the highlands, Glen Coe and Glen Nevis stirred emotions from deep within me that I never knew existed. It didn’t matter that it disregarded historical accuracy completely, because really, we all watch this film to see a bunch of hairy Scots charging around half-naked whilst slaughtering stereotypical Englishmen. The acting wasn’t brilliant, I’ve never thought much of Gibson as an actor, despite scaring the hell out of me in Signs when I was a wee laddie. I was however happy to have Brendan Gleeson in the role of Hamish in this film – couldn’t me a better man to represent us. A huge round of applause to John Toll and James Horner, as well as hair, make-up, costume and set design as I think those are the elements that make this film what it is. Gibson has got to be credited in some way though, the battle scenes are epic, and to act and direct can’t be too easy. It could have been about an hour shorter – Mel was enjoying slow-motion a bit too much in the editing booth. FREEDOM.

Acting                           2.5 / 4
Writing                             3 / 4
Cinematography            3.5 / 4
Music                            3.5 / 4
HWF rating                  3 / 4

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