Released on May 24, 1995, Braveheart was praised for its action, drama, and romance, though it was criticized for being historically inaccurate. The film, which was produced by Gibson's Icon Productions and The Ladd Company, was distributed by Paramount Pictures in North America and by 20th Century Fox internationally. Braveheart was filmed in Scotland and Ireland from June to October 1994. Despite initially declining, Gibson eventually decided to direct the film, as well as star as Wallace. picked up the project from Wallace, but when MGM was going through new management, Ladd left the studio and took the project with him. The story is inspired by Blind Harry's 15th century epic poem The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace and was adapted for the screen by Randall Wallace.ĭevelopment on the film initially started at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) when producer Alan Ladd Jr. The film also stars Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan and Catherine McCormack. Gibson portrays Sir William Wallace, a late-13th century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. The haunting loveliness of McCormack and the silver-tongued grace of Marceau as the forlorn Princess of Wales add welcome softness to the furore.Braveheart is a 1995 American epic historical drama film directed by, produced by, and starring Mel Gibson. As director he is passionate and controlled - harnessing the thousands of extras to create the awesome in-yer-face battle scenes, free-flowing with decapitatory and limb-lopping enthusiasm, while drawing sparkling performances from his cast, be they mud-caked, kilt-lifting warriors or preened maidens. As actor he is majestic - his locks extended to a mighty hazel mane, his Hollywood good looks set like the face of Ben Nevis, his Highland accent surprisingly authentic - fearlessly accessing the man's consuming battle frenzy as much as his glowing heroism. What is so evident among Braveheart's earthy hugeness is Gibson's self-belief. An almighty rebellion is mapped out via a set of searingly intense battle scenes, the political treachery of the lords in residence, the connivings of the merciless English King, Edward Longshanks (a splendidly corrupt McGoohan) and the eventual betrayal of all that he stood for (freedom, honour etc.). From then on - and the bulk of this gripping tapestry of medieval gung ho - he is in a perpetual state of war. Randall Wallace's decade-engulfing script - managing successfully to skirt potential melodrama - charts instead his namesake's heroic struggle from the childhood loss of his pa and bro' at the hands of the double-crossing English, through his wooing of the adorable McCormack, to the horrific events that turn him from peaceable farmer to blood-thirsty warrior. Such is El Gibbo's accomplishment, however, that Braveheart can stand shoulder to armour-clad shoulder with the aforementioned slices of epic. Mel Gibson, it seems, is not one to balk at a challenge the size of the Caledonians.įor his second directorial venture the star has elected to delve into the past, namely Scottish folk hero William Wallace, whose sprawling story would give the hardiest of directors the jitters. Inhospitable locations, a massive cast, a bum-numbing three-hour length, mud-strewn 13th Century decor, phalanxes of horses, kilts, beards, broadswords and battle scenes on a scale not seen since Spartacus and El Cid.
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