Rob Roy
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Movie Reviews of Rob Roy
Movie Review: Not a movie for people sensitive to sexual violence
Summary: 2 Stars
I stopped watching during the protracted rape scene. It was deeply painfull to watch and I felt gratuitous for the film makers to include.Movie Review: Featuring One of Cinema's Greatest Villains -- EVER!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Rob Roy" came out in 1995 with a couple other heroic swordplay films: "Braveheart" and "First Knight." I rank "Rob Roy" on a par with "Braveheart," even though the two films shouldn't really be compared since "Rob Roy" focuses on the conflict of individuals in Old Scotland and "Braveheart" focuses more on whole armies battling.WHAT WORKS: First of all, the location cinematography of the Scottish Highlands is breathtaking (far better than "Braveheart"). Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange are fine in their parts as Rob Roy and his wife. The sword-fighting (between individuals) is perhaps the best ever in cinematic history. The film also possesses a completely realistic vibe -- no anachronisms or campy humor here; the pic really helps one realize what life was like in rural Scotland 300 years ago.
What works best, to my mind, is Tim Roth's outstanding performance as Rob Roy's foppish-but-deadly nemesis. This is truly a villain you love to loathe. The Roth character (I forget his name) is so over-the-top foppish that he appears effeminate; but this is only a disguise as he's actually a ruthless master swordsman. Surely this is one of film's top villains ever! (It doesn't sound right to say "good villain," does it?)
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: The story itself doesn't have a lot of drive from beginning to end (unlike, say, "Last of the Mohicans" [1992]). One's attention may wander at points. Of course this may not be an entirely bad thing in light of the schizophrenic editing of many films post-"Armageddon." (In other words, the leisurely pace can be refreshing).
WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK FOR SOME PEOPLE: There are aspects of extreme sexual brutality (a rape scene) and vulgarity (a man shoves his fingers up a woman's nightgown); as well as overt love-making -- definitely material not appropriate for children. There are also overt scenes of, believe it or not, urination; many may regard this as needless, but (for me) it helped drive home the point of what every-day life was like back then (e.g. Where do you pee if you're living in a shack out in the hills? Or, in the middle of the night, if there's no upstairs bathroom?).
The story's lack of drive prevents "Rob Roy" from attaining true greatness in my mind, but the positive aspects noted above definitely achieve greatness. Certainly worthy of one's DVD library.
Movie Review: Not What It Could Have Been.
Summary: 3 Stars
For the sake of achieving a more marketable "R" rating this movie sold it's integrity. The character developement was excellent, you will actually detest the villian by movie's end. The final fight scene is worth the purchase of the DVD. However, much of the audience's emotional response to this film could have been more artfully portrayed by suggestion rather than the shown sexual vulgarity of the movie.Movie Review: Compelling tale of a man of honor in the Scottish Highlands
Summary: 5 Stars
During a summer blockbuster season when there were no fewer that THREE major medieval swords and soldiers epics, "Rob Roy" was easily the most overlooked. It was also easily one of the best movies of 1995; on par with its more famous sword-fighting cousin, "Braveheart" (the third swords and soldiers epic was "First Knight", a retelling of the legend of King Arthur and Camelot, which was notable only for a cast that starred Richard Gere and Sean Connery, but little else). With the universal appeal of the battle for freedom, the stories epic scale, and the marquee value of Mel Gibson starring and directing, it's understandable why "Braveheart" was such an overwhelming success. It also caused many people to overlook the compelling tale of Robert Roy MacGregor. In the last 1600's and early 1700's, the centuries old clan system of Scottish Highlands was slowly disintegrating, in part to unscrupulous politicians from the Lowlands and the inevitable impact of the changing times. One of the last great Scottish clan leaders was Rob Roy MacGregor. He was a man whose reputation was so well known and legend so far reaching that no one who knew him ever thought to write down a full description of him or an account of his feats. Much of what is used to cull together the script for "Rob Roy" comes from the fanciful (and often fictitious, as it was based primarily on unverified anecdotes) account by Sir Walter Scott and the more historically accurate research done by W.H. Murray. Rob Roy was a larger than life man who was bound by a code of honor so strict and so solemn that his word was more binding and reliable than most written contracts are today.
While there are many tales that surround the life of Rob Roy (W.H. Murray's book provides a wealth of those tales), the story that powers "Rob Roy" is that of a time circa 1713 when the prospects of a harsh winter forced Rob Roy to solicit a loan of 1000 Scottish pounds from the local politician, James Graham (The Marquis of Montrose), in order to purchase and resell cattle and make enough money to provide for his entire clan for the winter. The Marquis, as is noted in Murray's book and very clearly presented in the movie, was a devious man for whom words like `honor' had no meaning if they got in the way of profit. In the historical records, there is an unresolved mystery on what happened to the money and the man, Alan MacDonald, whom Rob Roy entrusted to secure the loan from Montrose. In "Rob Roy", it is posited that a few of the Marquis' factors, acting without his knowledge but not his disapproval, killed Rob Roy's man and stole the money. There is no doubting that the money did disappear and Marquis, when Rob Roy refused to bear false witness against the Duke of Argyll in exchange for relief of the debt, chose to take harshly punitive measures against the MacGregor clan rather than allowing the man to honor his debt.
The role of Rob Roy MacGregor is a challenging one because he was a much beloved historical figure who many people are fiercely protective of and would take offense if he were portrayed inaccurately. Fortunately, director Michael Caton-Jones had the foresight to cast a man who had already cut his teeth in a similarly complex historical role in "Schindler's List". That man was Irish actor Liam Neeson (Neeson would go on to continue his success at fully realized historical figures by playing the title role in "Michael Collins" a year later). Neeson brings a quiet intensity and dignified honor to this role, portraying Rob Roy as many accounts remember him. Aside from Neeson's performance, there is a plethora of expertly acted roles in "Rob Roy". Jessica Lange brings an equally forceful sense of honor to her role as Rob Roy's strong-willed wife, Mary. Veteran actor John Hurt displays an appropriate level of deceit as the Marquis of Montrose, as does Brian Cox as his slimy subordinate who conjured the plan to deceive MacGregor. Possibly the most spectacular performance is turned in by Tim Roth, playing one of Montrose' factors, Archibald Cunningham. While on the surface Cunningham appears to be an effete fop, underneath he possesses a razor-sharp wit and equally sharp skill with the sword and disdain for life in general. Roth's Archibald is one of sleaziest, most vile, villains to hit the screen in a long time. His actions as the lead in the pursuit of Rob Roy (who is on the run because of Cunningham in the first place) are truly reprehensible. The contrast of the of misanthropic Cunningham with the honorable MacGregor is extraordinarily compelling and climaxes with one the most realistic and gripping sword fights to take place on film in years.
Each successive viewing of "Rob Roy" reveals a greater understanding of the character of this great man. It also uncovers greater details about life in the Scottish Highlands and makes one understand why there is such a romance between writers with that land.
Movie Review: Great new old-fashioned movie. Tim Roth rocks.
Summary: 4 Stars
As most of the plot has been described here already, I will add just a few short words about this movie. First, the movie has an old Holywood feel to it. The movie takes cues from the "epic" movies of the fifties and early sixties. In fact, looking at just the titles and presentation of the movie, you should certainly get that impression.
Liam Neeson plays the hero of the movie - Robert Roy MacGregor - a Scottish highlander. He is a farmer and clan leader. The movie is set, of course, in the Scottish highlands in the early 1700's.
MacGregor, and his wife, ably played by Jessica Lange, have a good life, until MacGregor decides he can make some money by borrowing money from Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt). He does so, but in the process, he is underdone by perhaps the most vile of creatures, Archibald Cunningham, played deliciously by Tim Roth.
Cunningham is a really a great villian. Roth plays this role so well he was nominated for an Academy Award. You don'd want his calling card!!
The movie plays out by setting up the roles of the charecter, putting the plot together, and then in the third act, resolving the plot. In this sense it is a very conventional movie, but it is great fun getting there.
The movie is terriffic for the scenery, the swashbuckling scenes - some of the best I have ever seen - and capturing a sense of what life must of have been like in the early 1700's. If you like movies with intrigue and skulduggery involving nobility, this is also present.
In short, there are many, many ways of having a worse time with a movie. The movie is fun, Tim Roth is awesome as the villain (he is so bad you root for him in some sick twisted way!!)and Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange give solid performances as always.
See this movie.