"Braveheart"

Rated: R

Starring: Mel Gibson, Catherine McCormack, Patrick McGoohan, Sophie Marceau, James Cosmo, Angus Mc Fardyean & a cast of at least 100s

Written By: Randall Wallace

Directed: Mel Gibson

To very briefly summarize the main plotline, William Wallace comes back to the village of his birth and early life after travelling extensively with his Uncle and receiving an education. Things are not good in Scotland with the ongoing opression of the Scots from their neighbouring country England. Wallace doesn't want to become too involved preferring to live out a simple life but is flung headlong into the middle of the conflict when the English slaughter his new bride. We are then treated to some spectacular battle scenes and a marvellous story of bravery, loyalty and unbounded love.

One of the main complaints that have been sounded about this film is that it is a very loose version of the events that happened when William Wallace led the fight against the English. While, this is very true I would like to point out that the story does live up to the spirit of William Wallace's story and I don't feel it does the real man any diservice in this respect. I grew up with the story of Wallace and his great deeds and nothing in the film made me feel that they had taken Wallace's name in vain *Grin*. The only person who is given the short shrift is Robert the Bruce who, from all I have ever read or heard, was not the two faced slimeball that this film portrayed him to be before he saw the light.

So why did Braveheart deserve its Oscars? Well, firstly that was a mighty feat of directing skill that Gibson performed bringing together those battle scenes with such effectiveness. I think a lot of people don't realise the mastery of the special effects used in this film too. I would bet that a lot of people don't even realise they are seeing a special effect in some parts of the film. To me that proves just how great those effects were.

The picture was great because it successfully evoked a spirit which even still exists in Scotland. We are an extremely proud people although some great mistakes were made in the past which led to the loss of independence. The awesome beauty and breathtaking scenery of the country was captured with an excellence that I have not seen since Highlander. I believe the cinematography here out classed Highlander.

There is one scene in particular which justifies every accolade this movie receives. When Wallace's new wife, Murren, is captured by the English and tied to the stake every heart in the cinema stopped beating. I'm sure you could have heard a pin drop as everyone felt her anxiety while she searched the horizon for any sign of her love. When there was no sign of him and her throat was slit you could feel everyone's stomach lurch. There were very few dry eyes in the house at this point and that was true both times I saw this in the cinema. Subsequent video viewings with friends have also held true to the effect of this scene on everyone.

Braveheart may not be factually accurate but it is true to the spirit of a great man and the nation he fought and died for. It is also a touching tribute to the strength of great love.

Mary Jo Stockton (3/28/96)