BFI LFF 2018: Outlaw King ***
Since Mel Gibson donned the tartan and the face paint back in 1995 as William Wallace in Braveheart, there has always been anticipation (and some in trepidation) as to how the next Hollywood A-lister will cope with the Scottish accent. Like it or not, writer-director David Mackenzie has had this focus, after announcing his new historical project, Outlaw King. Having worked with its star, Chris Pine who plays Robert The Bruce before, this 14th century period drama has a confidence in its execution, plus some great battle scenes, even if the genre feels well worn.
Outlaw King follows the rise of Scottish ‘outlaw king’ Robert The Bruce (Pine) who used his influence and knowledge of Scotland’s landscape and castles to defeat and repel the larger occupying English Army, initially led by Kind Edward I of England (Stephen Dillane).
There is a great pride and camaraderie to be had from watching this kind of film. The small guy overcoming the larger, ‘evil’ ruling force is appealing as it is relevant. Mackenzie continues Scotland’s ‘Robert Bruce’ idolizing with a film that is as much about Scottish independence as it is about one man’s power and what he does with it. It is a heady tonic of might, mud and gore.
The climax battle scenes are exhilarating to watch, as you get down in the trenches among the wooden pikes with the men and feel the sheer physicality of it all. Mackenzie spares no punches, keeping you literally ‘entrenched’ on the frontline as Englishmen advance.
The rest is geared towards Robin Hood fans, with a loveable rogue trying to turn the tide of injustice – even if he has committed a heinous crime in the process. Pine does a decent Scottish accent too, as well as some of his non-Scots Brit actors. There were no giggles or painful sighs from the cinema aisles, at least not in this screening.
The film could be snipped in parts, as bearded menfolk discusses the end ‘meeting of all meetings’ that the film works at a good pace towards. As with all such dramas ‘based on true events’, female characters get a raw deal in terms of portraying anything meaningful to the narrative, but Mackenzie makes Florence Pugh’s Elizabeth Burgh, wife of Robert, seem as influential and relevant as history will allow.
Overall, Mackenzie’s cast is well matched, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson as edgy wildcard loyal to Robert, Sir James Douglas. The only small doubt is Billy Howle as underdog Edward, Prince of Wales, who the Brit actor plays with some conviction, but does not quite have the seething menace that you would expect the sadistic prince to have.
Outlaw King still ticks all the boxes of such a genre film and feels refreshing in production values to have actual battle scenes which are not obviously CGI-ed, like a Lord of the Rings flick. It is as entertaining as it is patriotic, banging the David vs Goliath drum for the downtrodden everywhere. It should go into battle with pride in theatres.
