Braveheart: Belief is the heaviest sword
Directed by Mel Gibson
“It’s all for nothing if you don’t have freedom.”
William Wallace
Braveheart is an American historical drama film directed and produced in 1995 by Mel Gibson, who portrays a Scottish Warrior named William Wallace. Inspired by the historical events leading up to Scotland’s Independence from England, Braveheart engineers a cinematic take on those events. With the screenplay written by Randall Wallace and Mel Gibson, most of the film’s criticisms stem from its historical inaccuracies. However, minus those complaints, it is stellar. The film is paced wonderfully as the tension builds throughout each scene and in a linear fashion. All the characters were well-written and fully developed with great dialogue to follow. Mel Gibson did a wonderful job of portraying William Wallace in bravery and in fear. He truly conveyed many of those raw emotions in his performance. Special mention would go to Patrick McGoohan as King Edward I, also known as “Longshanks,” as well as Angus MacFadyen as Robert the Bruce. Both proved to be very complex characters with well-defined motivations. James Horner composed and conducted the score which was complementary to every scene. The film’s cinematography was very well done with those wide-angled shots of the highlands. Though, the quality which causes this film to stand out is not just the actors’ work but its messaging. After watching, there should be a moment where you consider the weight of belief and how it truly is the catalyst to freedom. Heavier than any sword wielded was Wallace’s belief in freedom above compromise; and from that he garnered courage and honor to fight for this value even to the point of death.
The Island Cinephile 
