Strong albeit one-sided war epic packs a punch

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2002)

The Patriot (2000): Director Roland Emmerich's surprisingly entertaining work stars Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin (loosely based on war hero Francis Marion), an American farmer abstaining from the Revolutionary War after previously fighting in the French and Indian Conflict. But when one of his children is murdered by British Colonel William Tavington (Jason Isaacs), he changes his mind at the flip of a switch and takes up arms alongside his eldest son Gabriel (Heath Ledger). It sounds schmaltzy, but the plot plays well and, despite the lengthy running time (2 hours, 45 minutes), keeps a steady pace that is fueled by Robert Rodat's solid script, which is a nice combination of suspense and humor and is acted out by a strong cast. The one serious defect is the unflattering portrayal of the British, which becomes excessive and unnerving at times. Sure, it's a fictitious work, but the filmmakers really should have known better. 8/10