BEFORE: Another longish historical period piece tonight, but at least it's Friday, I can stay up late and sleep in tomorrow. Wrapping up Liam Neeson Week with a film about another national hero (Scottish this time, not Irish) that I know very little about. Looks like another opportunity for some learnin'.
THE PLOT: In the highlands of Scotland in the 1700s, Rob Roy tries to lead his small town to a better future, by borrowing money from the local nobility to buy cattle to herd to market. When the money is stolen, Rob is forced into a Robin Hood lifestyle to defend his family and honor.
AFTER: Liam Neeson is one of the few main Star Wars actors who's not on the convention circuit, or has made his autograph available. I've got a short list of actors who I'd like to get signed 8x10's from before my collection is done. (For the record: Neeson, Ewan MacGregor, Frank Oz, Pernilla August and Denis Lawson. Except for Alec Guinness, I've got autographs from just about everyone else)
But before he played Qui-Gon Jinn in "Phantom Menace", he warmed up by playing Rob Roy. Swords, lightsabers, it's all the same. And the characters are linked by their similar codes of honor, and willingness to fight for what's right.
But come on, Scotland - your national hero is a guy who got burned in a business deal? And then had to fight his way out of debt? His story's not really on a par with "Braveheart", now is it? But there is some interesting stuff here, in the class struggle between the weaselly British nobles and the more honorable...hill people? Commoners? What do they prefer being called - highlanders?
NITPICK POINT: Instead of just raiding cattle, why not fight fire with fire? Steal the marquis' cattle, sell the cattle, and use the proceeds to pay back the debt? Am I missing something, or is stolen money just as good as money honestly earned? The marquis can't prove that you got the money by stealing from him, so he'd have to accept it as repayment, right?
NITPICK POINT #2: And this is a knock against all sword-fighting scenes, not just ones in this film. Why do we hear the sound of metal-on-metal whenever someone in a film draws his sword, from a (most-likely) leather sheath? It shouldn't make any sound at all, but those damn foley artists and sound techs think it's sexy if the sword makes a noise. But it shouldn't, that's very unrealistic.
The last duel in this film is a real doozy - I won't give anything away, but damn! Never seen one that intense before.
Also starring Jessica Lange (last seen WAY back in 2009, in "Night and the City"), Tim Roth (last seen in "Lucky Numbers"), John Hurt (last seen in "King Ralph"), Brian Cox (last seen in "The Bourne Supremacy"), Eric Stoltz (last seen in the regrettable "Lionheart: The Children's Crusade").
RATING: 6 out of 10 claymores
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