"Robin Hood"
Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Rating: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content.
Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.
“Robin Hood” is like the Little Engine that Can’t.
When you’re not struggling to understand the marbles-in-their-mouths accents, you’re wading through endless scenes of swordplay in the hopes that you might find something to connect with.
It tries to be an epic masterpiece. Kind of. I mean, it has all the fixin’s for a truly delectable experience.
So what’s lacking?
Heart, for one. If you’re any sort of a “Braveheart” watcher you’ll know at once what I mean by being moved by and invested in a story.
Characterization, for another. How is it possible to have a 2 1/2 hour movie and only really know about a handful of characters? And even of those handful, little justice is given to any.
It’s simply impossible (for me, anyway) to not compare this movie to “Braveheart.” It’s a medieval piece starring a scruffy vigilante who rebels against authority for the greater good. But where “Braveheart” was a drama first and an action movie second, “Robin Hood” spins the genres around — to its misfortune.
Director Ridley Scott must have been aware that such comparisons would be made by the general audience. And though it’s expected, it is a bit unfair. “Robin Hood” is a perfectly decent movie with an adequate plot and plenty of (albeit not excessively gory) action.
Russell Crowe stars as Robin Longstride, an archer in King Richard the Lionheart’s army who is caught up in wars of which he wants no part. Robin and some friends (including Little John) sneak away soon after the king’s death on the battlefield in the hopes of returning to normal lives in England, but a promise made to a dying knight sends Robin on a quest that will lead him to Nottingham where he meets the Lady Marion Loxley (a great performance by Cate Blanchett).
And while Robin would like nothing more than to enjoy a quiet life with Marion, death and mayhem come to him in the form of Godfrey (an oh-so-good-at-being-bad Mark Strong), who is threatening all of England with his aggressive methods of tax collection and a subtle threat of French invasion.
The English may have no problem repelling the French if they were united, but Richard the Lionheart’s brother, King John (Oscar Isaac), is a greedy, power-hungry dictator who excels at isolating his angry subjects.
It’s very sad to see this movie not be what it so badly wants to be. Scott should have loosened up on the reins, cut back most of the pointless action sequences and allowed “Robin Hood” to be what it is at its core — a character-driven tale.
The few performances that were actually given a decent amount of screen time were done expertly by the actors. Mark Strong is simply amazing, and Max von Sydow is one of the more stirring as Sir Walter Loxley.
As for Robin Hood’s band of Merry Men, their superficial personas and scant screentime left little the actors could build on. Too, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen) is a mere nod to the legend and his character has little involvement in the film — a shame.
Scott tries to throw emotional viewers like me a bone with Robin discovering who is father was with the help of a “rise and rise again until lambs become lions” inscription — but the “revelation” isn’t at all surprising and you never really feel that empathy with Robin because you were never allowed the chance to connect with him.
It’s not a bad movie. But with a high budget, a respected director, a renowned cast and a storyline that just begs to be great, “Robin Hood” just never seems to hit its target.
Send movie suggestions or comments to rcrofut@fltimes.com.
3 of 5 stars
* * *
All good things must come to an end.
And so it is that LOST, the best television show ever (yes, I did just use a sweeping generality that most people won’t agree with), is wrapping up its entire series from 9 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
Personally, I have no idea how they’re going to do it. It seems like too much is left to be answered. And I’m more than a little sad that this is the end, but I’m also very excited to see what J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof have thought up.
So check in next week to see my thoughts on the finale and on the series as a whole.
Also, if you’re a humongous LOST fan like me, we’d like you to contact our reporter Amanda Folts at afolts@fltimes.com or 789-3333 ext. 257 to talk about the finale.
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