I have to admit that I am a fan of Ridley Scott. So when the multi-award winning director of films such as “Alien”, the underrated “Kingdom of Heaven” (the director’s cut is one of the best films I’ve ever seen), and the harrowing war epic “Black Hawk Down” was directing a film based on the legend of “Robin Hood”; of course I was excited. This film is a reunion of sorts for Scott and award-winning actor Russell Crowe after “American Gangster“ (who won best actor in the Ridley Scott directed epic “Gladiator”). The film was originally to be called “Nottingham” and was re-written because of Scott’s dissatisfaction, so now the film tells a story about Robin Hood before he became an outlaw; so in many ways this can be seen as a prequel.
This film was an official selection in the Cannes film festival.
12th century England, Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) is a common archer in King Richard’s third crusade. After spending many years of fighting abroad, Robin and his three other weary companions opts to return to England and as fortune would have it, happens upon an ambush being led by an English knight with French lineage called Godfrey (Mark Strong). They chase Godfrey’s assassins (sent to kill King Richard who had already died in battle) and rather than return to England with nothing, Robin impersonates a knight called Sir Loxley and to deliver the news of the King’s death to his power-hungry brother John (Oscar Isaac). While in England, Robin is taken in by the blind sire of the fallen Sir Loxley (played by Max Von Sydow) and is introduced to his widow Marion (Cate Blanchett). Robin is convinced to keep up the ruse to keep the tax collectors at bay while Godfrey plots with the king of France to inspire political unrest and lay siege on England. Robin with the aid of William Marshal (William Hurt) must unite with the forces of England to drive off the invasion…
I guess those who are expecting the familiar tale of Robin and his “Merry Men” are better off looking elsewhere as the script written by Brian Helgeland takes a very different route that has ambition and quite frankly, a little more challenging. I liked this different approach as I have gotten a little weary of all the familiar interpretations of this tale as Robin and his ‘merry men’ take from the rich and give to the poor. Ridley Scott had the right idea in mind because by taking the story to the beginning he has more room to maneuver and solidify Robin’s identity in the mythos of Sherwood Forest.
The film does have the familiar characters such as “Little John” (Kevin Durand), the Fiar called “Tuck” (Mark Addy) and the sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfayden). The storytelling is pretty much kept basic as the film goes about revealing the political situation of this period, the effects of war that can trigger more taxation, and the struggles of the common folk. The film has the usual themes of honor, loyalty and duty--as well the King’s duty to his subjects and the subject’s duty to his country. Scott does manage to hit the right spots in the film, but it isn’t irresistibly explosive despite the fact that Ridley Scott injects some rousing energy in the screenplay. I did like the fact that the film invoked a darker, more ambitious tone to the story (personally I am a little tired of the same colorful antics) while taking “Robin Hood” to basic storytelling.
Ridley Scott is a maestro when it comes to shooting scenes of raw epic battles given his experience with “Gladiator” and “Kingdom of Heaven”. One wouldn’t be hard-pressed to expect the best battle scenes from this epic maestro and while the battles in “Robin Hood” are indeed better than most movies, it is surprisingly toned down. The film is rated PG-13, (his other films were rated R) so I guess it is safe to say that this film may have an unrated release. The battles were good, as we see the united English fron engage the French forces, but the bloodbaths and their intensity were incredibly toned down from Scott’s past epic films. Scott does reduce the intense atmosphere of war and resorts to a more ‘friendly’ display of clanging swords, ‘whooshing’ arrows, and death. The expression of the horrors of war seemed to have been lost as the scenes of warfare was a little musty but it was still effective because of the performances of its cast and the score by Marc Streitenfeld. Honestly, the film resembles a lot of other war epics with one main difference; the birth of an outlaw called “Robin of the Hood” instead of the glory and rewards brought about by a country’s king.
The performances are real good. Russell Crowe is in very familiar territory as he plays a ’rougher’, more brawny “Robin”. Cate Blanchett was excellent as Marion, although I wasn’t satisfied and was unconvinced of the developing love and chemistry between the two at first until they started to grow on me despite the limited screen time they spent together. I was immediately taken by Blanchett‘s fierce performance and her charisma as she provided the needed balance in the plot. Max Von Sydow was real amusing as the Walter Loxley that he almost stole the show. I loved the fact that Scott played some twists and turns on past familial sins and hardships. I also enjoyed the well-placed bits of humor that developed its faces of characters and managed the screen personality. I also made the film a little more accessible for mainstream audiences. They were funny but not hokey as with the other “Robin Hood” film with Kevin Costner.
As much as I enjoyed “Robin Hood”, I cannot say that the film didn't struggle a little to sustain its audience. There were certain scenes that I thought were a little confusing (I am sure that this will have a director’s cut) especially with all the devices being utilized, most especially to those unfamiliar with the legend. It is a minor irritant but it does make the film a little rough around the edges and appear a little unpolished. However, the goals of the film do come across as sincere and honest; it doesn’t cavort like Flynn’s or stagger like Costner’s interpretations. It does hit the spots of romance, heroism, and villainy on a grand display of cool archery with enough energy that is Ridley Scott.
Recommended! [3 ½ out of 5 Stars]
Perhaps I will save this one for Netflix. Thanks again!