Braveheart

It had been a long time since Hollywood delivered an epic film like unto "Ben Hur" and "Spartacus". Considering that this was Mel Gibson's first major motion picture as a director (and only his second directorial film at all), the odds of him taking this great script called "Braveheart" and turning it into a film that can be uttered in the same sentence as the aforementioned classics were slim. The production also ran into many troubles during filming with the studio and with filming in Scotland. Because all the filmmakers working on this film did their best, their efforts were rewarded in more than full. When North Americans think about Scotland, "Braveheart" almost always comes to mind as well and this is evidence of the film's impact on pop culture. As good as many of the cinematic elements of this movie are, the musical score is a big part of this film's power.

"Braveheart" utilizes the underdog story pattern to great effect and that always makes for a great movie. Even though I like historical accuracy, I can forgive the filmmakers of "Braveheart" because they came up with something that worked wonders on the big screen. The actual story of William Wallace has elements that wouldn't be as entertaining in a Hollywood film and Hollywood is not meant to entertain in the same way that the History Channel does for example. Many people have criticized the film for not being historically accurate but I find this ironic because of the movie's first line: "Historians from England will say I am a liar but history is written by those who have hanged heroes." Is this Robert the Bruce talking about the historians of his time or screenwriter Randall Wallace's message to modern day historians? Speaking of the opening of the film, those opening shots of the Scottish landscape are amazing but they are made even more grandiose thanks to James Horner's music. This is the case with so many scenes in the movie and I will only briefly point them out so as not to be too repetitive. All the locations that this movie was filmed at are breathtaking. William's father, with his final words to his son, teaches him the same lesson that his uncle does: brains over brawn. When William returns to his homeland as an adult, he proves this against Hamish. I love the lines "Test of manhood" followed by "You win." Another great line is "I should've remembered the rocks." By the way, I like how the filmmakers aged MacClannough and Campbell. It is made apparent that William never came back to his home to fight the English. William must have something to fight for, something to avenge, in this story. He wants peace and love but comes to understand that it is nothing if you don't have freedom as well. Thus we have the romance with Murron and it works perfectly with the rest of the epic story. I am glad that the nudity is as minimal as it is but it still did not sit well with me. I do like it when William pulls up in his horse to Murron's home, much like a jock with his sports car. They arrive back that night much like a modern couple after a date. The ability to relate to the story is vital so that we can be entertained. William decides against going to the meeting because he values a peaceful life after his journeys with his uncle. He also wants to be with Murron. MacClannough it seems is happy with the match but wants to put William to the ultimate test first: prove that he can stay out of the political difficulties between Scotland and England. Once Murron is gone, the savage is released upon the English.

Smyth is the character that starts all this by lusting after Murron. Oh, how I hate him. I always hate weasel-type minor characters that end up being the catalyst of the whole story such as the mayor on "Jaws" or Percy on "The Green Mile". I love William's slow return to the village in supposed surrender. This is where Mel Gibson shines as a director more than an actor. This was the first edited sequence that Gibson saw in post-production and the editor worked very hard on it so as to do justice to the material that Gibson filmed. After seeing it for the first time, Gibson got all of his friends into the room for the second viewing because of how masterful it was. It truly is a scene. I love how Campbell gets shot by the arrow but then gets up, kills a soldier with a spear and then lifts up the gate by himself. No wonder Hamish is so headstrong. Look what his father is like. Even after losing a hand at Stirling, Campbell is still not out yet. I love William's response to the line "So what news?" By hitting the English Lord who spoke it, it is like he is saying: "This is news". Another great editing choice was the cut after "Burn it." The audio of the fire can be heard milliseconds before we see it and that makes the image even more powerful. Robert the Bruce is an interesting character. He has goodness and longs for the kind of career that William has undertaken but his father's advice & pressure keep him from doing what his heart tells him is right. Stephen is another great character in "Braveheart" because you need a guy like him in Wallace's army. Beside the leader you have the big touch guy, the veteran and what's missing is the crazy man. A great thing that is done story-wise is making Stephen hard to judge at first. Then, just when it looks like he is out to kill William, he turns out to be more than worthy of our trust when he saves William's life from the other "volunteer". Another great moment of Stephen's in the film is when the English are firing arrows at Stirling. The Battle of Stirling is a great cinematic scene that tops everything else so far in the film in terms of action. Gibson did a great job with this scene as the director but most of the praise should go to James Horner. The entire sequence at Stirling has unforgettable music. The Scottish army that has gathered at Stirling will not stay so the nobles can benefit from the surrender but then William & his men come to inspire both the nobles and the army. I really find it funny when Lochlan tries to get the army to stay until the surrender is complete. This leads to a memorable Hollywood speech from William Wallace as performed well by Gibson. I also love when William picks a fight with Cheltham. The Scottish nobles are a little reluctant to divide their army but they sense the intelligence that William possesses. Because negotiations have failed, they seem to shrug their shoulders and let William make the call. I really enjoy the silence and then the yelling followed by the mooning. The spears are talked about before the battle and we see them being brought in front of the army but the appearance of them as lifted up at William's command is a surprise so that was great on the part of Gibson as director in conjunction with his editor and screenwriter. The Scottish horsemen's appearance behind the English makes for another nice surprise because we forgot about them in the midst of the battle.

After the battle, Robert the Bruce goes to try and talk sense into William but William ends up giving the Bruce advice. I like the Bruce's reaction to William's allegiance to him. Publically William Wallace has no political loyalties but privately, he motivates the leader most deserving of the throne. The Bruce is surprised and if I were him, that would have been enough for me to take up the crown and lead my country with courage in the pursuit of freedom. To have William Wallace backing me would have been the coolest thing. This makes the Bruce's betrayal to William more tragic and shocking. I really like when William defends himself in other languages before the princess and her escorts. The scene gives justification for William's invasion into England but furthers the story of the princess as a good person in the court of evil men. William reveals personal details of Murron because he feels he can help her understand and thus the peace that is desired will be realized. He wants her to open her eyes and because she is not completely "blind", his words are impacting upon her. This is a different man than what even she was expecting. He does act savage but his intelligence and passion for true freedom is apparent to her. Probably the funniest moment in the movie is when Hamish non-verbally hits on the princess's lady in waiting. Hey, if William "made an impression" on the princess maybe he has a chance with her friend. This is again relatable for a modern audience. Another great surprise in the movie is when the Irish join the Scotts in the middle of the battlefield at Falkirk. We must have hope in order for it to be dashed to pieces as the battle continues.

The story arch of "Braveheart" follows that of a Shakespearean tragedy. By Act III of the five-act play, the hero finds himself losing control of his situation. He also makes a fatal flaw in Act III. Romeo kills Tybalt, Macbeth kills his friend Banquo and Hamlet cannot kill his uncle but instead murders Polonius. While William doesn't make any fatal flaw, it is the battle of Falkirk where the Scottish nobles betray him thus begins William's tragic fall. The Bruce was right; without the nobles, there is no hope. By making enemies in England and Scotland, William is destined to die. There is one shot during the battle that tells me that the Bruce did not know that Mornay and Lochlan had betrayed William. The Bruce certainly did not think that he would be exposed. He was secretly standing by Longshanks in order to maintain his bid for the crown of Scotland. He did not view this as betrayal until he sees the look on William's face. One of Mel Gibson's greatest moments as an actor came when he sees Robert the Bruce during the battle at Falkirk. The look of disbelief and despair on his face is one that I don't know if he could replicate all that much. Because Gibson only did three takes for these shots of himself, we will never know. Robert the Bruce never fully caught the spirit of freedom but after Falkirk, he wants to, more than anything after seeing the devastation. Unfortunately, his father will not let his son throw away his chance of being king. Once the Bruce finally chooses the right side both publically and privately, it is too late as the Bruce's father decides to take matters into his own hands. William's revenge on Mornay and Lochlan is cool. It makes the montage that accompanies Lochlan's death even cooler. If William Wallace wasn't already a Hollywood hero, he is now as his "legend grows". I love the first look on the Bruce's face when Lochlan's dead body falls on the table. It is too funny. It might seem disappointing that William can fall in love with the princess after having sworn his love to Murron for the rest of his life. My feeling is that he is not in love with the princess the same way that he is in love with Murron. His attitude towards Isabella is companionate as opposed to lustful. He senses her awful state, being married to a man that does not love her, and William gives her the love she craves so much. He might be using her to his advantage but in my opinion, the romance between William and Isabella is genuine. People remarry all the time but don't stop loving their initial spouse who is now passed on. I love the music that accompanies the montage of images after William & the princess leave each other and as good as "For the Love of a Princess" is on the soundtrack, this piece of music in the movie is also very special.

As William departs his friends after hearing Robert the Bruce's offer, I think it is fitting that Hamish's last act towards William is to punch him. I also like the way the Bruce steps off the table as William approaches. As the audience, we want to believe that Robert the Bruce has not set a trap and our hopes are rewarded. Unfortunately, another Bruce has set the trap. Is the old man right? Did the Bruce know in his heart that William had to be taken in order for him to become king? I don't believe that. I do however think that the Bruce did the right thing too late as I said. All these experiences however make Robert the Bruce a good king. I wonder how William was able to kiss the princess and not swallow the liquid. Oh, well. He is the superhuman William Wallace after all. I think that Mel Gibson's depiction of the torture of Wallace was overly symbolic of Christ's. Gibson could have been a little subtler like the original script appears to be. At least Gibson's acting is good. I believe that he is in pain. I wonder why not all the soldiers at the execution are hooded such as the bald one. The magistrate gives William so many chances to beg for mercy and this creates good drama. I also like how Longshanks is coughing madly after hearing that his bloodline will end. The king's men don't know this and are trying to comfort him. That is a funny moment. As the crowd urges William to beg for mercy (even they can't seem to take it anymore) and as his friends silently plead for the same thing, we as an audience are divided internally. We also hate to see William suffer but we don't want him to give in. This makes the memorable shout from Wallace so powerful. The final scene of "Braveheart" is so resolving and just what we needed after seeing William's death. I love Craig's reaction to the Bruce's plea to the army. Again, Horner's score is incredible in conclusion of the movie.

The casting of this movie was very well done. I knew who Mel Gibson was before this movie because I had seen "Forever Young" and "Pocahontas". However, he became a Hollywood star in my book after seeing "Braveheart". I don't which Patrick McGoohan movie I saw first: this film or "Escape from Alcatraz". I have also been a fan of the latter film since a young age but I didn't recognize McGoohan in that Clint Eastwood film until I was an adult. Either way, McGoohan as a villainous actor stood out to me immediately at a young age. His coughing in "Braveheart" as Longshanks is pretty unique. My favorite line of his in this movie is "The trouble with Scotland is that it's full of Scotts." I also really love the scene when Longshanks is deciding whom to send to bribe William because of McGoohan's acting. I do know for a fact that "Braveheart" is my first movie with Brendan Gleeson. I also like the casting of various minor English roles. They all are unique and have interesting voices. I love for example the actor playing the magistrate who presides over the execution. He is like the devil as he tempts William to give in to pain.

I like how the premier for this movie was at Stirling. They say that "Braveheart" reached its peak of popularity after it was released on video but I disagree. I remember it being in theaters and the buzz about it. The movie won half of the Oscars it was nominated for in a very competitive year. It won for Makeup, Cinematography, Sound Editing, Director and Best Picture. Even though "Apollo 13" won Best Editing, I do favor the work on "Braveheart" a little more. In 1995, James Horner was nominated twice for Best Original Score and the great John Williams was also nominated. The tragic thing was that neither of them won and James Horner in my opinion should have been the winner that year. His work on "Braveheart" is his best musical score in my book because it is #7 on my list of favorites. The American Film Institute has included this movie on its lists for thrilling films (#91) and inspirational films (#62). The image of Scotland in the rest of the world's eyes was changed forever because of this show. When the theme of independence is discussed, the First War of Scottish Independence is probably third only to the American Revolution and the Exodus in people's minds. The popularity of face painting for sporting events rose after 1995. In 1996, I entered high school in my hometown of Fort Macleod and that year the school changed its mascot to a Scottish warrior named Angus Wallace Macleod. In high school band, one of my favorite memories is playing the soundtrack to this movie. The success of "Braveheart" led to the creation of other historical epics such as "Gladiator" and "The Patriot". Even though Mel Gibson has a fallen reputation today and though I will never condone what he has done, I tend to remember his glory days instead such as in the production of this epic film. It will forever remain in popular culture.

5 Stars