Alexander Armstrong, Ben Miller, Christian Camargo

No one will be neutral about Plunkett & Macleane. Either you go with its notion of cheeky, stylish fun or you want to grab first-time director Jake Scott by the ear and slap him silly.

...( read more  read more... ) Your inclination may depend on whether you recall his dad Ridley's own directing debut, The Duellists (1977), and savor the correspondences. Dad took a Joseph Conrad tale of the Napoleonic Wars, cast it with the ultra-contemporary Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel, and filmed it with a swoopingly mobile camera. Son Jake has made a feisty period piece about a pair of thieves (Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller) in 1748 London and filled it with blatant anachronisms. A decadent aristo (Alan Cumming), asked whether he "still swings both ways," replies, "I swing every way!" A ballroom full of revelers dances the minuet (or is it the gavotte?) while our ears--if not theirs--are filled with a rock ballad. And so forth.

Is this sophomoric? Maybe. But it's also often fresh and inventive. Why shouldn't a filmmaker be allowed to speak directly to a contemporary consciousness, even flaunt it, as long as he also delivers startling imagery and convincing period detail? The solid cast includes Michael Gambon as a corrupt magistrate, Ken Stott as a very nasty enforcer named Mr. Chance (who favors a thumb through the eye socket and into the brain as a mode of execution), and Terence Rigby as a philosophical jailer; even Liv Tyler looks more interesting than usual. Plunkett & Macleane is in the end pretty frivolous, but it's a lively debut nonetheless. --Richard T. Jameson

Flixster Users

69% liked it

6,345 ratings

Critics

27% liked it

26 critics

R, 102 min.

Directed by: Jake Scott

Release Date: October 1, 1999

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: May 1, 2001

Stats: 263 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (263)


  • August 17, 2007
    My sister really likes this, its a good film, black humour and good soundtrack.
  • October 4, 2006
    Heals the need for a Jonny Lee Miller fix in a snap.
  • September 8, 2006
    Liv Tyler, The Tigerlillies on the soundtrack? It should be my favourite film...it is not
  • February 22, 2009
    It may be flawed, but true perfection is imperfect right? I love the gritty realism of the situation, period, and Carlyle's and Lee Miller's relationship. I must admit that's not for everyone, but if you want to see the bright side of life go bury your head in the sand bucket.
  • December 26, 2007
    A personal favorite.
  • October 25, 2009
    Strange movie but very good!
  • August 11, 2009
    history needs a little unrelevant twist. Plunkett & Macleane is a fun film to watch. It might set on the 18th century with some random modern twists thrown into it for the fun element. It's cool, even before there was the english expression "cool".
  • June 28, 2009
    Interesting blend of period piece with a modern techno-type of soundtrack. Johnnie Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle as two highwayman chewing up some scenery with Alan Cumming doing what he does best - stealing the film. Liv Tyler playing the obligatory love interest.
  • December 20, 2008
    i saw it in 2006 and i really really liked it!!
  • October 5, 2008
    Almost don't remember anything, apart that it was cool.

Comments


This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Plunkett & Macleane" !

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Spider-Man 3
    Spider-Man 3 (25%)
  • Marie Antoinette
    Marie Antoinette (25%)
  • The Mask of Zorro
    The Mask of Zorro (40%)
  • The Count of Monte Cristo
    The Count of Monte Cristo (60%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Plunkett & Maclea... : Watch Free on TV


Plunkett & Macleane Trivia


  • Which comedians starred in Plunkett and Macleane?  Answer »
  • Lady Rebecca Gibson played by Liv Tyler falls in love with a "highway man".  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Plunkett & Macleane. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?