Revolution (1985)

8% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(2,917 ratings)

This period drama about the American Revolution has an overlay of rhetoric that thwarts the action, flattening out the story about a man and his loved ones caught up in the events of the time. Tom Dobb (Al Pacino) falls in love with Daisy McConnahay (Nastassja Kinski), an aristocrat who deserts her… More This period drama about the American Revolution has an overlay of rhetoric that thwarts the action, flattening out the story about a man and his loved ones caught up in the events of the time. Tom Dobb (Al Pacino) falls in love with Daisy McConnahay (Nastassja Kinski), an aristocrat who deserts her class to fight alongside the rebels. Tom teaches his son Ned (Dexter Fletcher) everything he needs to learn, though the growing rebellion consumes most of his attention. Eventually, the Redcoats are mowed down in large battle scenes, as the ragtag Colonialists go to war. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Hugh Hudson
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1985 Wide
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Watching Revolution is a little like visiting a museum -- it looks good without really being alive.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's also a mess, but one that's so giddily misguided that it's sometimes a good deal of fun for all of the wrong reasons.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Beautifully photographed but emotionally uninvolving.
, Time Out
An almost inconceivable disaster.
, Film4
Curiosity alone should lead you to this one.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
star-spangled silliness, and one of the biggest debacles of the 1980s
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
Even the characters in the movie don't know what's going on.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

interesting cinematically overlooked time period, usually fine actors, terrible movie
Mike T

According to Al Pacino and Hugh Hudson, studio interference was detrimental to this movie's impact. I watched it in the "Revisited" director's cut edition, and I was still unimpressed with what I saw. This is a movie that falls apart so quickly and extremely that… More
According to Al Pacino and Hugh Hudson, studio interference was detrimental to this movie's impact. I watched it in the "Revisited" director's cut edition, and I was still unimpressed with what I saw. This is a movie that falls apart so quickly and extremely that it's difficult to pull out any redeeming features. This is a picture that should have been much longer and more detailed, with more focus on the characters and their motives/backgrounds. What we are provided with are not people with discernable traits, and the plot is too cloudy to follow it strictly on that basis. There are things that I respect about this film. For instance, Hugh Hudson's decision to shoot it completely on hand-held cameras is not only bold, but surprisingly effective. This is a very handsome and unique-looking piece. I also admire Pacino's dedication to his craft, and he manages to shape a distinct performance when he appears to have very little to work with.
Dimitris S

That's a poorly constructed "epic" film. Under the shadow of the forgotten ancestors, my first sentence is the warning I can provide you with...pardon me, prevent you from ever watching an insult to moral,mental and majestic dignity. Pacino, Sutherland, Hudson, robotic… More
That's a poorly constructed "epic" film. Under the shadow of the forgotten ancestors, my first sentence is the warning I can provide you with...pardon me, prevent you from ever watching an insult to moral,mental and majestic dignity. Pacino, Sutherland, Hudson, robotic crew? If it were made by the Puthons, we'd be talking about a new masterpiece, however, if you are not a fan of miss Kinski's delicate face, I suggest you fall into a coma compared to the indefinite visual suffering.

Cast

            Al Pacino as Tom Dobb

            Donald Sutherland as Sgt. Maj. Peasy

            Nastassja Kinski as Daisy McConnahay

            Joan Plowright as Mrs. McConnahay

            Steven Berkoff as Sgt. Jones

            Annie Lennox as Liberty Woman

            John Wells as Corty

            Dexter Fletcher as Ned Dobb

            Sid Owen as Young Ned

            Richard O'Brien as Lord Hampton

            Felicity Dean as Betsy

            Jonathan Adams as Chaplain

            Jesse Birdsall as Corporal to Sgt. Peasy

            Theresa Boden as Abby

            Paul Brooke as Lord Darling

            Robbie Coltrane as New York Burgher

            Joseph Running Fox as Iroquois Indian

            Stefan Gryff as Capt. Lacy

            Kate Hardie as Carrie Cray

            Tristram Jellinek as Marcel

            Cameron Johann as Ben

            Denis Lacroix as Iroquois Indian

            Jo Anna Lee as Amy

            William Marlowe as Sgt. Marley

            Cheryl Miller as Cuffy

            Eric Milota as Merle

            Olinka
            
            Gabriel Pontello
            
            Adrian Rawlins as Bill

            Manning Redwood as Capt. Cray

            Larry Sellers as Honehwah

            Mathew Sim as New York Burgher

            Malcolm Terris as Dr. Sloan

            Lex van Delden as Pierre

            Skeeter Vaughan as Tonti

            Frank Windsor as Gen. Washington

            Harry Ditson as Israel Davis

            Dave King as Mr. McConnahay

            Paul Humpoletz as New York Burgher

            Rebecca Calder as Bella

            Brendan Conroy as New York Burgher

            Richard Hicks as Roger Otis

            Steve Kligerman as Clowski

            Harold Pacheco as Iroquois Indian

            Danny Potts as Ahab

            Graham Greene as Ongwata

            John Patrick as Sgt. Malin
See full cast

Revolution (1985)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Mike T

Dimitris S

Cast

Trailers & Clips