Braveheart

His passion captivated a woman. His courage inspired a country. His heart defied a king.

BRAVEHEART (15)

D: Mel Gibson

Paramount/Icon/The Ladd Co./Marquis (Mel Gibson, Alan Ladd, Jr. & Bruce Davey)

USA 🇺🇸 1995

177 mins

Historical/Adventure

W: Randall Wallace

DP: John Toll

Ed: Steven Rosenblum

Mus: James Horner

PD: Tom Sanders

Cos: Charles Knode

Mel Gibson (William Wallace), Sophie Marceau (Princess Isabelle), Patrick McGoohan (King Edward I - Longshanks), Catherine McCormack (Murron), Brendan Gleeson (Hamish), James Cosmo (Campbell), David O'Hara (Stephen), Angus MacFadyen (Robert the Bruce), Ian Bannen (The Leper), Peter Hanly (Prince Edward)

A semi-fictional account of highlander William Wallace's rebellion against English rule and the claims of King Edward I.

If it's a history lesson you're after, this certainly wouldn't be the film of choice as the panning it undeservedly got from critics pointed out. However, the first line of narration clearly states "Historians from England would call me a liar, but history is written by those who hang heroes." Therefore, throwing all arguments of historical inaccuracies in the dustbin where they duly belong.

Ignoring all those criticisms, Braveheart is a poetically directed, beautifully photographed and impeccably designed epic on the bloodied battlegrounds in the name of Scottish independence, whether your true opinions on William Wallace were a traitor, or not. It matters even less that Wallace is portrayed by an Australian accent with a questionable accent. It's a popcorn movie with higher aspirations and was a surprise winner of the Best Picture Oscar for 1995.

8/10