Review of The Patriot (2000) by Alain D — 19 Dec 2018
This is a misfire from Mel Gibson. I won't use the director Ronald Emmerich here as we all are well aware of his prowess. This is a derivative and relentlessly mediocre motion picture. The Patriot suffers from a series of potentially fatal flaws: poor character development, a lack of tension, stifling strains of political correctness, a rambling screenplay, manipulative and emotionally untrue "big moments", and wretched pacing.
Most war films, no matter what their setting, build gradually to a momentous climax. This doesn't happen during The Patriot. There is a big skirmish at the end, but it doesn't seem like the culmination of all that has preceded it.
Great battle scenes in movies stir the blood; this one left me cold. Overall, the pacing is uneven and the tone monotonous. With only a couple of exceptions, Emmerich fails to generate tension. The Patriot is a disappointment.
Caleb Deschanel's gorgeous cinematography and John Williams' score give the film an impressive sheen but thatï¿ 1/2(TM)s about all the good I can say.
This review of The Patriot (2000) was written by Alain D on 19 Dec 2018.
The Patriot has generally received positive reviews.
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