Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Thoughts on Outlaw King (2018)

Huge historical epic has Chris Pine as Robert The Bruce who took back the throne of Scotland after the death of William Wallace.

Opening with a kick ass 9 minute tracking shot the film is exactly the sort of film they don't make anymore. Filled with blood and kings and romance this is a glorious  film that delights on so many levels.

Beautifully acted the film actually works because we get a whole bunch of characters we like. Pine is wonderful as Robert and everyone just follows suit right behind him. I don't think that there is a bad performance in the bunch. I love that the heart of the film is the people. Robert's romance with the queen is absolutely lovely.  I also love the relationship with his men is superb and it all pays off as we go on on in the final quarter of the film as turns and deaths produce real tears.

The action when it comes is brutal and ugly, as it would be. The final battle is almost unbearable in its intensity and realism. Its a sea of crashing bodies  and steel covered in blood, mud and offal. After a while you go numb- as you should.

This is an unexpected joy. I heard mixed things out of Toronto and once it hit theaters and Netflix. What I found when I actually sat don to watch it was something that grabbed me and held my attention from start to finish.

Highly recommended.

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