The Last Refuge of a Scoundrel

Rating: 5/10 (25 April 2010)

In 1776, South Carolina widower Mel Gibson (as Benjamin Martin) is reluctant to join in the War of Independence from England, preferring to settle differences through talks with King George. "I will not fight," Mr. Gibson declares. This disappoints several of Gibson's seven good-looking children, especially headstrong Heath Ledger (as Gabriel), who signs up to fight against his father's wishes. Next eldest Gregory Smith (as Thomas) must wait until he's seventeen. But, when the British attack Gibson's plantation, even youngsters Trevor Morgan (as Nathan) and Bryan Chafin (as Samuel) show how to "Aim small, miss small." Gibson organizes a Christian militia, and helps win the Revolution for the United States of America.
Let's accept the British are evil, and the French are tolerated. Gibson's "Negros" are freed slaves, but content to stay on with Gibson's nice family. The violence includes Gibson coating himself in the blood of a hacked-up victim. Fine. Realistic. Gibson's character realizes that pacifism is not a workable ideology, and wins the debate. Move along. The woman Mr. Ledger falls in love with, Lisa Brenner (as Anne Howard), gives a patriotic speech in church, and he is smitten. They "write" and exchange toothy smiles to suggest lovemaking. People observe the "no smoking" sign, wash their mouths out with soap, and blow someone's head off. "The Patriot" is a cardboard story, a cartoon-like tale... with beautiful cinematography.
***** The Patriot (6/27/00) Roland Emmerich ~ Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Jason Isaacs, Joely Richardson