Another Hollywood bloodbath, but powerful nonetheless

Rating: 9/10 (18 July 2000)

It's difficult to know where to start in evaluating this film. It is bloody and violent (but so were the times). The highest-ranking British officers depicted reveal reprehensible characteristics despite their pretensions to gentility. The running time is a bit on the long side. The musical score by John Williams seems an overly well-worn rehash of some of his other compositions, namely the soundtracks to "Star Wars" and "Far & Away." Although the period is, on the whole, faithfully rendered, there are nonetheless some jarring anachronisms. -- Yet, to focus on these elements is to miss the very real power of the central story, not the Revolutionary War per se, but a family drama. Mel Gibson is simply superb as Benjamin Martin, a former fighter in the French and Indian Wars who wants to place his brutal reputation behind him and focus on raising his large family in peace while war swirls around him. Mr. Gibson manages the conflicting emotions of his role with great mastery. Two of his scenes in the movie, quite frankly, moved me to tears. -- In addition, the other roles are well-acted, especially Heath Ledger as Martin's eldest son, and Joely Richardson as Charlotte, the gutsy sister of Martin's late wife. -- Sadly, it's probably too early to talk about Oscar nominations, but certainly Mel Gibson deserves one for this acting tour-de-force!