Review of The Patriot (2000) by Mloy X — 22 Oct 2014

Susan Martin (Skye McCole Bartusiak): Papa! Papa, don't, I'll say anything! Please, papa, I'll say.

Anything you want, tell me what you want me to say and I'll say it... Papa please don't go!

I know I've seen this film before but its been quite sometime since and for some reason the Susan Martin's performance was mentioned somewhere, then it was rebroadcast on t.v.--- long story-short, I watched it again. When I first saw it, I remember liking it because this was part of Mel Gibson's serious phase (post Mad Max and Lethal Weapon flix) and liking this side of his acting ability, plus Heath Ledger was an up-and-coming star who was both a talented actor and good-looking. Watching it now though, makes me a little sad because I think of the talent lost when Ledger passed and can only imagine how great he would have been. But back to the film. Back in the days the only attraction to this film was Mel Gibson, but having watched it again, I love the fact that there are so many familiar faces in this film that I failed to appreciate the first time I watched it: namely the gorgeous and talented Jason Isaacs, who plays Col. William Tavington, but is better known to me as the luscious Lucius Malfoy from the Potter series and my favorite dual-reality-challenged detective, Michael Britten, from the t.v. series "Awake". It's always a treat to watch any film with the ever talented, Tom Wilkinson (who played Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis) and Chris Cooper, Col. Harry Burwell, because they give such awesome performances with every role they play. I also now appreciate more the performances of character actors like Joely Richardson (Charlotte Selton), who was also in the series "Nip/Tuck" and Donal Logue (Dan Scott), who plays Det. Bullock in the t.v. series Gotham. But as wonderful as all these seasoned acting veterans were, I must admit that the performance that moved me to tears and the sole reason I watched this film again was the scene where little Susan Martin (played Skye McCole Bartusiak) asks her father (played by Mel Gibson) to stay. Argh, if that doesn't move you, I'd check for a pulse. It was brilliant and made the film worth seeing. Other than that, this movie was just plain interesting to watch (I can't attest to accuracy) but it was entertaining and I can honestly say one of Mel Gibson's better projects. The story was fascinating, the characters were multi-layered and overall enjoyable because it send you as the audience on a roller-coaster of emotions and entertains you that you barely notice how lengthy the film was.