The Patriot (2000)
WMB Rating:
(5 votes, average: 2.60 out of 5) 
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First off, 2000's The Patriot is by no means historically accurate. Really in any aspect I can think of. Just do some reading up on the film and you'll see lots of other reviews railing on it for its blatant inaccuracies, and judging it solely on those points. Forget all that.
The Patriot, in my opinion, ranks right up there with the likes of modern war movie classics like Saving Private Ryan. I'll get to explaining that reasoning in a bit, don't worry.
Set in 1776 South Carolina at the height of the Revolutionary War, we find one Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) and his family. His son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger) has volunteered for the Contintental Army, much to the dismay of Ben. You see, Ben knows all too well the horrors of war, having been involved in a terrible incident during the earlier "French-Indian" war. The British forces, locally lead by one Col. Tavington (Jason Isaacs) come upon his home, where there happen to be some wounded soldiers, along with Gabriel. Tavington kills the next youngest Martin boy, Thomas in cold blood, forcing Ben back into action, much against his will.
From there the movie explores the terrible truths of war, present then, and present now. The true costs of war, and indeed the costs of freedom and principle are presented in such a way that if you're not moved at least a little, you must be made of stone. That's where this movie excels, in its message.
OK, I'll give you that the depiction of the British as wanton barbarians hell bent on burning and killing everything in sight may be over the top. Just a bit. But I think without a clear and distinct "evil" in this picture it wouldn't have worked as well. Which is why all of the politics and historical facts were also left out, it just doesn't matter for the message.
Sure I suppose it gets a little "formula" in between Martin's change of heart and the conclusion. Especially the typical "grudge match" ending between Tavington and Martin. But that final "zinger" makes it all worth it, and I think sums up the entire movie, and what it represents.
"My sons were better men."
And because of them I'm able to write this article. Don't forget. Watch The Patriot.
Technorati Tags: war movie review, the patriot, 2000, united states revolutionary war, mel gibson, heath ledger, jason isaacs
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Description
In 1776 South Carolina, widower and legendary war hero Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) finds himself thrust into the midst of the American Revolutionary War as he helplessly watches his family torn apart by the savage forces of the British Redcoats. Unable to remain silent, he recruits a band of reluctant volunteers, including his idealistic patriot son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), to take up arms against the British. Fighting to protect his family's freedom and his country's independence, Martin discovers the pain of betrayal, the redemption of revenge and the passion of love.
Aimed directly at a mainstream audience, The Patriot qualifies as respectable entertainment, but anyone expecting a definitive drama about the American Revolution should look elsewhere. Rising above the blatant crowd pleasing of Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla, director Roland Emmerich crafts a marvelous re-creation of South Carolina in the late 1770s (aided immeasurably by cinematographer Caleb Deschanel), and Robert Rodat's screenplay offers the same balance of epic scale and emotional urgency that elevated his earlier script for Saving Private Ryan. Unfortunately, Emmerich embraces clichés and hackneyed melodrama that a more gifted director would have avoided. Instead of attempting a truly great film about the most pivotal years of American history, Emmerich settles for a standard revenge plot with the Revolutionary War as an incidental backdrop. On those terms, the film is engrossing and sufficiently intelligent, especially when militia leader Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) cagily negotiates with British General Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson) in one of the most rewarding scenes. For the most part, the story concerns Martin's anguished quest for revenge against ruthless redcoat Colonel Tavington (played with snide relish by Jason Isaacs), and the rise to manhood of Martin's eldest son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), whose battlefield honor exceeds even that of his brutally volatile father. At its best, The Patriot conveys the horror of war among innocent civilians, and the epic battle scenes, while by no means masterful, are graphically intense and impressive. And although Ledger's love interest (Lisa Brenner) is too bland to register much emotion, the focus on family (which frequently relegates the war to background history) provides a suitable vehicle for Gibson, who matches his achievement in Braveheart with an effectively brooding performance. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Information
Binding: DVDAspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Brand: Sony
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Original Release Date:
Actors:
- Mel Gibson
- Heath Ledger
- Joely Richardson
- Jason Isaacs
- Chris Cooper
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