Review of Robin Hood (2009) by Ward P — 01 Jun 2012

There are several reasons to watch Kevin Reynolds' late eighties period romp. None are as imperative as the performance of Michael Wincott. Never has an actor played with quite the scathing virility as that of Michael Wincott in his turn as Sir Guy of Gisbourne.

Wincott delivers one of the true masterpieces of motion picture acting in the 20th century. Indeed, one cannot ignore that the success of this film lies in the incandescence of his performance. From the very off Wincott departs from earlier more jovial thoroughfares Wild Horse Hank, Nothing Personal and Ticket to Heaven to deliver a performance of pathos laden juxtaposition. "Might I have the pleasure of your name, before I run you through..." shows a tender understanding of the enlightenment of identity in 11th century England. And it is in this immortal line that we see the heart of Wincott as expressed so delicately in Sir Guy. Bitter at his exclusion from the crusades and fundamentally introspective as to the attainment of his title (the benificiary of a hereditary association with the Sheriff), Wincott weaves a masterpiece of subterfuge and charm seldom seen before or since. "Come on, damn you, there are only three of them" displays Gisbourne's inane cors d'esprit, whilst disecting the verisimilitudes of pre-colonial emancipation.

"I tried" hints at the fundamental child that still remains buried deep within the man. Wincott goes further as Sir Guy dances a two-step between muscular enforcer and cabaret drag-artist. The manner in which Wincott weaves subtle homo-sexual undertones into Sir Guy's relationship with the Sheriff (a robust Alan Rickman) is at times simply mesmorizing. "Why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe...?" the ethereal metaphorical brutality of the axe as genitalia being beautifully crafted into this scene. Furthermore, Wincott goes on to explore the implicit argument that sex and love are in fact the same thing seen from alternative perspectives..."Milady?".

When we look at Wincott's turn as Sir Guy it is impossible to argue that Robin Hood is anything other than a detailed cross-examination of the origins of the Suffragettes and their emancipation from the sex trade. "Lucky he didn't steal your virtue as well?".

Wincott delivers one of the performance of his career, a career that struggled to match the zenith of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Yet for a breathtaking 11 minutes, Wincott dared us to believe.