Top historic-based action

Rating: 10/10 (29 March 2002)

This is a top action-drama story with equal amounts of human relationships and war, plus a hint of comedy (I think the running bit with the chair is very effective).
SPOILER WARNING
I think special commendation should go to some of the supporting cast in this story for really giving it a lot of personality. Well, Tom Wilkinson would probably prefer to be called a co-star, but anyway he definitely give his character the right amount of political intrigue and ambition as the English general, while still finding room for some humour and other sensitive qualities - so his character's not totally two-dimensional. And Peter Woodward as his aide-de-camp I thought was a very fascinating character, holding together the scenes he figures in with real panache (the best being his entrance with the captured "officer"). And finally I would like to point out Trevor Morgan who plays the third son Nathan, as really making his character both humorously and dramatically successful.
I think I could count on the fingers of one hand the times when a film has actually brought a tear to my eye; and this film is one of them. (Yes, I'm usually the hard, cynical observer who knows all the tricks.) But both the scenes where the son gets shot, and the one where the girl finally decides to speak to her father managed to finally choke me up. It's probably because they're the type of characters who are trying not to cry and do it anyway, as opposed to the usual soap opera sort who will pour on the waterworks at the slightest provocation.
This certainly deserves its place in my top 100 movie list!