The sheer joy of watching a somewhat fictionalised rendition of William Wallace cutting through the countryside of Scotland and England depends entirely on how far you can lean into the directing style and acting on display throughout Braveheart. A film riddled with problems from the very beginning, it’s surprising just how much Mel Gibson’s critical darling has to offer. Its inaccuracy aside, Braveheart looks to offer up an adaptation of the life Wallace finds himself leading, a living legend for the people of Scotland and the rebellion that took place against the English lords and kings.
I won’t pretend I know all that much about Wallace, and knew that this film wouldn’t teach me that much either. For those that want to find out more about Wallace, I suggest reading a book, watching a documentary, or staying away from this film. But, for those wanting a generally enjoyable film that doesn’t take its historical accuracy so seriously, then Braveheart will prove to be a thoroughly entertaining treat. Much of the enjoyment, predictably, comes from the surprisingly brilliant direction Gibson provides us with. Only his second outing as a director, he puts himself under the spotlight, yelling “Freedom” as loud as his voice will carry and, generally, making for a rather enjoyable performance.
He bolsters his leading role with a handful of delightfully cast individuals. James Cosmo and Brendan Gleeson’s inclusion in particular sticks out as a starkly excellent choice. A father and son team that rallies behind Wallace, they act as brilliant supporting players to Gibson’s leading role. Braveheart’s biggest credit is how well-paced the film feels. Monumental, large scale battles and warfare clash nicely with the motivation Wallace has for leading his troops into battle, and the camaraderie is displayed with insightful depth. That seems to be a rather common trend for Gibson’s directed films, and this level of teamwork and dependability rears its head in Hacksaw Ridge, but not to as large an extent as it does here.
Expecting nothing more than a bloated, Hollywood history lesson, it’s nice to see that Braveheart understands that, for the most part, its primary objective isn’t to teach its audience, but to entertain them. With that, sacrifices come far and wide, with rather primitive moments that don’t quite break free from the typical Hollywood format, but there are more than a handful of scenes that allow for Gibson’s direction to shine through. He expresses a clear knack and understanding for how scenes should be framed, how vitally important the soundtrack is to exploring the brutality of the Scottish and English warfare, but also how detrimental it is in engaging with its varied cast of characters.
Wildly inaccurate, but a lot of fun, Mel Gibson’s direction blends nicely with this loose adaptation of William Wallace and his fight against the English. Historical accuracy isn’t all that relevant when you’ve got such an entertaining film on your hands, and Gibson provides an abundance of delicate pacing choices, engaging characters and thoroughly great performances. It’s a real treat for anyone in need of a big-budget battlefront, with Gibson and his cast proving more than competent throughout.
