Country: United States
Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Mel Gibson
Year: 1995
Rating: 
TRASH CINEMA ESSENTIAL MOVIE
It’s hard to take Braveheart completely seriously. Sure, there is glorious photography, an orchestral score that constantly telegraphs the “serious” nature of the project, and some fine acting. Also, you can’t fault Mel Gibson’s direction of the fine action choreography, but he is just a little too fond of impalements, disembowelments, and crushed skulls, if you know what I mean.
He gets off on this stuff (full disclosure — so do I) a little too much for Braveheart to pass as art. Moreover, as amusing as it is, there is more than a whiff of homophobia about Gibson’s lip-smacking depiction of Longshank’s treatment of his homosexual son.
Of course, these are minority opinions. Braveheart did win the Best Picture Oscar, after all.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Braveheart is the story of the rebellion led by William Wallace (Mel Gibson) against Edward the Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan), who usurped the throne of Scotland. It is also about Mel Gibson’s obsession with ritual purification through torture, which he would wallow in shamelessly in his Heartland hit, The Passion of the Christ.
But enough ridiculing of Mel Gibson. There is a reason that Braveheart won a Best Picture Oscar. Gibson may be crude in his instincts, but he directs boldly, with a classic cineaste’s eye. And let’s face it — his vulgarity is downright entertaining.
Patrick McGoohan is a pure delight as the cunning and merciless Longshanks. And it must be said that scriptwriter Randall Wallace does a wonderful job of delineating and dramatizing the oily political intrigues taking place behind the scenes.
Gibson himself is broadly effective in the role of William Wallace. In fact, all of the actors come off quite well, which I attribute not only to the casting by Patsy Pollock, but also to Gibson’s ability to direct actors. This is especially apparent in the performance of newcomer Catherine McCormack, who played William Wallace’s young wife. McCormack is lovely and touching in the role, which is crucial to the power of the story.
The plethora of tasty character turns by a number of actors, including Sean McGinley, John Kavanagh, Alun Armstrong, Brendan Gleeson, Tommy Flanagan, Rupert Vansittart, Ian Bannen, and John Murtagh, serve as confirmation of Gibson’s skill with actors.
Let’s face it. Whatever you might think of Mel Gibson’s excesses, you don’t make a three-hour epic with confident pacing, gorgeous production values, and superior performances across the board if you’re a hack. Gibson is a born filmmaker. The only question is how he will use his gifts. He’s already completed his trancendance through torture trilogy with Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto. Does he have anything else he wants to say? Only time will tell.
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