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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