Works because it is done with conviction

Rating: 8/10 (3 March 2013)

Mel Gibson plays William Wallace and the story basically tells how he is politicised, raises an army and begins to win against the English, even pushing back their forces as far as York. But in the end he is unable to get the support he needs from the Scottish nobility and his revolt falls apart. Wallace is hung drawn and quartered after his capture but, of course, the idea of freedom lives on.
Gibson is very good in the part and plays with utter conviction. My only reservation here was that he leaves his highland village aged about ten and returns aged forty although you would expect him to be in his twenties. He remains looking forty for the remaining years of his life too. But it is difficult to get around the fact that in showing someone's life you have to use different actors â€“ if you have too many it gets confusing. I'm no expert but his accent sounds pretty good to me too.
The casting is convincing throughout especially with the grizzled and weathered warriors who always mange to look as they really know how to handle themselves. Special mention must go to Patrick McGoohan who is perfect as Edward Longshanks. The cold and calculating way in which he manipulates everyone around him is played to the maximum and you believe that this man could really dominate his family and his court through sheer force of will.
Gibson also directs and it is difficult to find fault in this. The battle scenes are some of the best ever seen on screen though I do not know how much of this is down to the second unit direction rather than Gibson. Whatever, it is impressive.
As a viewing experience I do feel the third act is a little disappointing as the rebel camp falls apart and Wallace is betrayed and captured and this section could have been trimmed down a little. But that's just a minor point. Some people have noticed historical inaccuracies and moaned about them. For instance Prince Edward's French wife was apparently only about six years old at the time she is portrayed as an adult having it off with Mel in the film. Well, it's a good sub-plot in the film so it doesn't trouble me at all.
The other glaring inaccuracy is the fact that Wallace's warriors wear woad into battle although this practice died out long before. To this charge I'd like to say I just don't care. When you see the warriors woaded up you just know that this is right. Even if woad was not used at the time it should have been! Painting your face to make yourself look fierce in battle has always been practiced and always will. Whether it is woad or mud or red paint that is used it is psychologically right. The woad is one of the masterstrokes of the film for me