A massive, sweaty, frequently silly epic that nevertheless delivers enough brute pleasure to pass a rainy afternoon. Mel Gibson, who also directs, plays Scottish national hero Sir William Wallace, who led a 13th-century rebellion against landowning English nobles;
vividly realized battle scenes are the highlight. Grizzled Patrick McGoohan (of TV's
The Prisoner and
Secret Agent) kicks out the thespic jams as Edward I; Sophie Marceau plays his French daughter-in-law, who, as soon as she even learns of Wallace's existence, falls in love weez 'eem. That's no
surprise, since she's married to the young Prince Edward (Peter Hanly), a gay caricature whom Gibs...
Released:
1995
Rated:
R
Length:
177 mins