The greatest history lesson ever ...

Rating: Null/10 (14 December 2002)

It must be almost a unique event for a whole nation (the Scots) to learn the details of the life of their 'National Hero' by way of a Hollywood movie. After seeing Braveheart they swiftly realised that, while they didn't know how much of what they had just seen in the movie was true, they sure as hell now knew how little they had known before about this period in Scotland's history ... and they set about filling in the blanks. Thus a publishing boom in books about Wallace and the Wars of Independence was set in motion.
What made the 'history lesson' so powerful was that it was delivered via the medium of such an emotionally engaging movie. It was a great story that screenwriter Randall Wallace took up, and Mel Gibson just knew that this had to be the script to get him his Oscar, so he put everything into the directing and acting. Most of the cast and crew involved felt that they were working on a 'special' project, and it shows in terms of the performances and most other aspects of the production. Although the soundtrack recording has sold very well, James Horner's score didn't get the recognition it deserved at the time ... it should have got an Oscar too. Braveheart was loved by audiences world-wide, with many people going to see it again and again in the cinema. In addition to the 5 Oscars, it won numerous other awards, including the Empire Magazine's UK readers' poll for best movie of 1995. Back in Scotland it proved influential at a time of political change, as Scotland voted to restore a measure of self-government, after 300 years of rule from London. Braveheart helped make history, and in recognition of the way the movie was in-tune with the national conciousness, the BBC TV transmission of the opening of the new Scottish Parliament in July 1999 used the Braveheart theme over the opening and closing credits. Braveheart isn't just a movie, it is a phenomenon. You haven't really lived until you've seen it ...