The Patriot (2000)

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After his young son is murdered by a sadistic British officer, a peaceful colonial farmer forms a militia to exact vengeance during the American Revolution. Armed with a strong, emotionally potent screenplay by Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, Fly Away Home), often-ridiculous director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Moonfall) delivers his least ridiculous film to date with The Patriot. Mel Gibson stars as the farmer-turned-rogue warrior, with Heath Ledger co-starring as his eldest son. (Yes, this uniquely American story is directed by a German and stars two Australians.) Rodat’s script gives the two leads plenty to work with as they embody two sides of the film’s central thematic conflict: when is violence called for, and what are the consequences of waging it?

Gibson’s character is haunted by past indiscretions and reluctant to fight in the beginning, while Ledger’s character is all too eager. Over the course of the action, Ledger comes to understand his father’s reluctance, while Gibson’s character grimly accepts the aftermath of his decisions. His line of narration, “I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me, and the cost is more than I can bear,” is a perfect encapsulation of the heart of Rodat’s story.

Emmerich steers the film in the right direction nearly the entire length of the journey, wavering only in a few gratuitous shots involving cannonballs, and in an excess of patriotic pageantry on display during the final showdown. He fortifies his efforts with some of the best collaborators around. The Patriot benefits from stunning cinematography by Caleb Deschanel (Fly Away Home, Killer Joe), a grand, romantic soundtrack by John Williams, and strong casting all around. Gibson balances strength with vulnerability in a starring role many other leading men would struggle with, while Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) delivers a chilling performance as the heartless British colonel who sets this tragic tale in motion. Other notable performances are given by Chris Cooper, Joely Richardson, Tom Wilkinson, Leon Rippy, Lisa Brenner, and Gregory Smith (Everwood).

The Patriot is nearly three hours long (especially if you watch the extended version available on home video), but it moves well and never lingers long enough to test your patience. The action scenes are counterbalanced by melodramatic moments of loss and love. Its good old fashioned storytelling, if you can give yourself over to it. If you can’t, you may find yourself rolling your eyes a few times.

Oscar Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound