Review of Rob Roy (1995) by Filipeneto — 23 Aug 2018

This film is often compared to "Braveheart" because both talk about Scottish heroes. But all the similarities stop there. They portray distinct historical periods. However, this film isn't the true portrait of Rob Roy's life. It totally ignores, for example, Rob Roy's participation in the Scottish Jacobite uprisings and the Battle of Glen Shiel (1719), to focus on the personal conflict between him and the Marquis of Montrose. The film also ignores that it was Rob Roy's popularity among the Scots that truly saved him, forcing King George I to grant him royal pardon. So we can say that this film is partly fiction.

Liam Neeson gives life to the main character and does it in a convincing and enjoyable way. His Rob Roy is a thoughtful and intelligent man, who balances courage and good sense, knowing when and why to fight. This makes the character into someone nice to the public, especially when we realize that he is being cheated and fighting for his family and his honor. Tim Roth is the great villain, Cunningham, a penniless lower-ranking aristocrat with effeminate manners (its normal at the time in the nobles of the royal courts). Cunningham is full of wickedness, perfidy and disdain for those around him, showing that nobility of blood doesn't necessarily give us nobility of character. Lord Montrose is brilliantly played by John Hurt and Jessica Lange shone in the role of the honorable Mrs. MacGregor. Some characters feature a loaded Scottish accent that sometimes fails and turns out to be false, but that is a forgivable mistake. Apart from the positive work of the cast, we can still admire the good use of the film locations with beautiful Scottish landscapes. Cinematography is regular and satisfying. The costumes and scenarios are very good and historically accurate. The final product is a good historical context film, with no dead moments or flagrant anachronisms.