The Patriot




Mel Gibson is an actor, who in recent years, has become a sort of
modern John Wayne.  People love him, as well as most of his movies,
yet they look down on his conservative politics.  It was because of his political
views that I looked forward to the release of "The Patriot" with almost unlawful
yearning.

The movie, surprisingly controversial, for one so straight forward, grabs the viewer from the
first scene and simply never lets go.

From the openings  post rider, to the finales  sweeping dramatics, the film makers are
obviously attempting to paint the American struggle in a new and realistic light.

The film brings so many cards to the table that it would take weeks to expound on
all of them.  From the obvious excitement over  a simple parcel of mail, to the frightening scenes of
a helpless family awaiting hordes of Red Coat soldiers, the movie paints a picture of what it
might really be like to live in Colonial America.

What simply astounds me is the uproar around the world as to the "historical inaccuracies" of the
movie.  I have to wonder what these critics are thinking.  After all, this movie was overseen with
painstaking attention to detail by our very own Smithsonian Institute.  Who better would know
what life in Colonial America was like?

As far as the issue of the treatment of slavery I must say that, while it was surely sugar coated, it was
not in any way unrealistic.  There are many historical references to slave owners who freed their slaves, who in turn, stayed on to work the land.  Where was a freed slave to go?  Also the idea that every
slave owner treated their slaves unjustly is absurd...   Who were the hundreds of white people who
constituted the Underground Railroad?  In seeing Benjamin Martin's knowledge of the runaway slave
camps, and their trust in him, the movie is obviously making the point that he is one of those who would
have helped freed slaves escape to the North.

But enough of politics.  In the end this is a drama about family, and Patriotism.  In these areas the film
is quite simply superb.  The viewer goes away with a sense of what the cost was for those who fought the war for Independence.  The battle scenes, also over viewed by Smithsonian employees are terrifyingly effective.  The directors subtle camera work, is fantastic for this type of epic venture.  We do not have sweeping pan shots but instead very soft camera use, allowing the viewer to get trapped into the real
world of "The Patriot".  We live their lives, we don't feel we are watching them being played out by actors.

This movie, to me played like a very well made John Ford movie.  From the use of windows and door ways to frame the images of war, to the long range camera shots of columns of horse riders, I get the
sense that the film makers might well have incarnated a little of "The Duke" for this film.

The acting is superb.  Gibson leads a cast of stellar performers, highlighted by Jason Issacs portrayal
Of Col. Tavington.  His ruthlessness has been in question, but seriously, the character he was based
upon was nick named "The Butcher"!  Kudos are also in order for Chris Cooper's steadfast colonial hero as well as Tom Wilkenson's wonderful depiction of Lord Cornwallis.  Every character is fletched out wonderfully by the actors/ess involved, creating simply, one of the best action
dramas in recent memories

If there is any disappointment in this movie for me, it is simply that the film is so far
removed from the issues of the Revolution that have not been filmed to date, such as
the Boston Tea party et.  Other then that the movie rocked.

****
 


 


The Patriot
Data's Review


 
 

Overall, I have to agree with the above review.  The Patriot is the absolute best movie of the year so far.  The reaction of the audience is priceless when they realize that this is not a fairy tale war movie.  The one point I would have to disagree with in the above review is the movies historical accuracy.  While the Smithsonian no doubt accurately displayed many facets of life during this time, I suspect the  church burning scene was completely fictitious.  I cannot imagine that even the most crass of English soldiers would have committed such an act of senseless violence.  Mel Gibson's character in The Patriot is also completely fictitious.  In reality, the man who Gibson's character was based, Francis Marion aka the Swamp Fox, was nowhere near the honorable man that he was portrayed to be in the movie.  Marion was known for his brutality to slaves and mistreatment of women.  To cover up these flaws, the characters name was changed to Benjamin Martin, and the only remnants remaining of Marion were his guerilla fighting tactics.  Even his nickname, "The Swamp Fox" was changed to "The Ghost".  And last, but not least, the last battle was a misrepresentation of history as well.  With the massive amount of people on the battle field, it would have been almost impossible for Tavington and Martin to have fought one on one.  The outcome was most definitely fictitious.  Tavington returned to England after the war where he took up politics.  Despite the historical inaccuracies, this is definitely a must see movie.

   ****

-Data-