Rob Roy poster & wallpaper

Andrew Keir, Eric Stoltz, Jessica Lange

One of the most invigorating period adventures to hit the big screen in decades, this lavish, brilliantly directed film drew critical and audience raves when it was released in 1995. Inspired by histo...( read more  read more... )rical fact and larger-than-life legend, the intelligently scripted story takes place in Scotland in 1713, when Highland farmer and clan leader Rob Roy MacGregor (Liam Neeson) is forced to borrow money from the duplicitous aristocrat Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt) to help his clan survive a harsh winter. When Montrose's vile henchman (Tim Roth) schemes to dishonor MacGregor and his wife (Jessica Lange) and take the money for himself, the rugged Highlander must take courageous action to preserve his integrity. What follows--along with some of the finest sword-fighting ever filmed--is a tale of courage and valor destined to become an enduring movie classic. Tim Roth received a well-deserved Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actor) for his indelible performance as the foppish but deadly villain Cunningham, and both Neeson and Lange bring an earthy, sensual quality to their passionate roles. Boasting a wealth of breathtaking scenery and high-intensity action, Rob Roy is further blessed by a splendid supporting cast (including Brian Cox and Eric Stoltz), and the lush soundtrack by Carter Burwell strikes a perfect balance of romanticism and vigorous dramatic energy. --Jeff Shannon

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75% liked it

30,823 ratings

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79% liked it

29 critics

R, 139 min.

Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones

Release Date: April 7, 1995

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DVD Release Date: August 27, 1997

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Flixster Reviews (1,134)

  • RiderOfTheStorms
    July 19, 2009
    RiderOfTheStorms
    I Loved this fuckin movie it was Sick!!! I cant believe it took so long 4 me 2 watch it. All the actors were great, at their prime and playin at their best!!! THis movie is full of great characters, great acting, music, scenery, comedy, action and even romance. Liam NESSON IS TH...( read more)E FUCKING SHIT DOH!!!!!!!!
  • PvtCaboose91
    August 26, 2008
    PvtCaboose91
    "I love the bones of you, Robert McGregor, but you take too much to heart that canna' be helped."


    At its heart, Rob Roy is Braveheart donning a new kilt distinctively suited for the thinking audience. Ultimately the film is an invigorating period advent

    ...( read more)ure criminally buried and forgotten due to its meagre box office reception. In general, critics and audiences collectively bequeathed Rob Roy with acclaim and positive comments. This lavish, alluring, intriguing, brilliantly directed production was unfortunately left for dead when Mel Gibson's medieval epic Braveheart hit the big screen. As a result, the major box office earnings were instead offered to Gibson's film. Eventually Gibson's Braveheart became the talk of the town, sweeping the Oscars and developing into a more frequent recommendation via word of mouth. Rob Roy was profoundly overshadowed, and the studio eventually lost confidence in the film. Consequently this film will rarely appear as a highly regarded recommendation when it deserves to be. The intelligent scripting and solid performances from the lead actors should have guaranteed the film an opportunity to stand beside the greatest medieval-style swords-and-muskets historical adventures.

    Rob Roy marks the third filming of a story loosely based on a novel by Sir Walter Scott. Originally Scott's novel became a 1922 silent film and a 1953 Disney production. Director Michael Caton-Jones crafts a spectacular rendering of the source material. He mixes classic elements of betrayal, love, courage and hardship with first-rate production values. Screenwriter Alan Sharp exercises historical facts, elements of the original novel and embellishments by his pen to create this cinematic vision.
    As a notorious hero of 18th century Scotland, Robert Roy McGregor is known to have strolled through the mists of the Highlands, living by the code that made his name legendary. For his script, Sharp takes the skeletal myth and constructs a real person around those bones.

    McGregor is embodied here by Irish actor Liam Neeson, with McGregor's wife played by Jessica Lange. The setting is Scotland many centuries ago when honour was a rare commodity.
    Basically, Neeson's Robert Roy McGregor is an honourable man who endeavours to create a brighter future for his poor town. Faced with increasing poverty, he borrows an enormous sum of money from the duplicitous aristocrat Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt) with which he plans to use to help his clan survive a harsh winter. Enter unscrupulous fop Archibald Cunningham (Roth) who conceives other plans for the money. As the cash is being transported, Cunningham interferes and steals it for himself. This leaves Rob Roy in a massive debt he cannot repay, and the rugged Highlander is forced to take audacious action to defend his integrity.

    Liam Neeson places forth a convincing portrayal as the renowned hero. The Irish actor skilfully executes a Scottish accent. Romance and drama are strong points in his performance. Never does he tread a foot wrong as we hang off every word. When it comes to the combat, Neeson's skill with a sword is outstanding. Perhaps the image of Neeson brandishing a blade won him a role in Star Wars: Episode I.
    By this time Tim Roth was only chiefly recognised for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. With Rob Roy, the Oscar committee rewarded Roth's amazing performance as the vile antagonist with an Academy Award nomination. His screen persona from the outset is soft-spoken yet irretrievably cruel and vicious when it comes to sword-play. Better yet, among his first scenes we are informed that Roth's character penetrated a young boy whom he mistook for a girl. Roth's Cunningham is a sociopath who kills and rapes without compunction or remorse, and whose prime ambition in life is to make the best of an anguished existence in Scotland. Hunting Rob Roy gives Cunningham something to do - something he enjoys doing. While screenwriter Sharp brings much dreary historical facts to the fore in the film, Roth is the furthest thing from dreary: he's exuberant, evil and fun to watch. Flamboyant is an understatement to describe Roth's very entertaining performance.
    Jessica Lange brings uncommon emotional intensity to the role of Rob's wife Mary. Both Lange and Neeson bring passion and sensuality to their challenging roles.
    Veteran actor John Hurt is worth mentioning as the Marquis of Montrose with a foul agenda.
    Eric Stoltz shines above his usual standard, and the forever-trustworthy Brian Cox makes a memorable (if overly brief) performance as he delivers a spiteful commentary on the proceedings.

    The production values are top-notch: extraordinary costumes, extravagant cinematography and lavish landscapes breathe spectacular life into the script. Although Rob Roy is a sometimes irritatingly lengthy epic, there are some remarkable battles to behold. The final sword-fight is competently executed by the performers and filmed excellently. This fight is also riveting and moves at lightning pace.
    To compliment the film's setting, there's an atmospheric musical score by composer Carter Burwell. A combination of traditional Scottish folk songs and original music form an audio tapestry that perfectly suits the wonderful visual feast on offer.
    The film also benefits from Alan Sharp's smart script. The dialogue is moderately gratuitous at times, and the scenarios such as the violent battles are relentless, yet there's a poetic and lyrical sense to uncover as well.
    Despite the film's reasonably brisk pacing and adequate amounts of exciting action, the length could have been trimmed down. In the long run it excessively prolongs the lead-up towards the obligatory, predictable conclusion. There's also a deficiency of subtlety in the script, i.e. we know who to root for and who to wish dead. Nearly all can be forgiven for the final sword-fight.

    Overall, Rob Roy didn't stand a chance on its theatrical release due to the unreasonable overshadowing courtesy of Mel Gibson's Braveheart. By all means Rob Roy is the inferior film, but it deserves more recognition than it received. Boasting a profusion of lush scenery and high-intensity action, the film should almost certainly become an enduring classic. It's also well crafted with expert editing, solid direction and impressive cinematography. It's marginally marred by the lack of tightness in the script and perhaps it resorts to a few too many clichés too often.
  • crackingdanio
    May 16, 2008
    crackingdanio
    Roth is so cool as the bad guy here i mean seriously he's evil, I remember the first time i seen this and one image really stuck with me, after the incident with Roys wife and she's in the river trying to clean herself, anyway great performances allround..oh i have to mention the...( read more) swordfights so cool..great swashbuckler
  • garyX
    November 15, 2007
    garyX
    With it's grittier direction and more personal story, this period swashbuckler seems to lack the Hollywood gloss of it's contemporary Braveheart, but scratch the surface and you'll find the usual foreign actors with suspect accents, penny whistles and noble savages fighting the o...( read more)ppression of evil aristocrats, hung on a plot that could easily have been lifted directly from a western. It is however well written and solidly performed, but it is really the cast of cads that Neeson is forced into battling that make this film. John Hurt's arrogant and calculating Montrose, Brian Cox and his amusingly snide commentary on the proceedings, but most of all Tim Roth's hilariously immoral fop. It may not have the spectacle and humour of Mel Gibson's epic, but it is different enough to make it worth a watch in it's own right.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    September 6, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    In my opinion, better than Braveheart. A great film.
  • melcandy5
    November 21, 2009
    melcandy5
    Was expecting for more. Tim Roth was freaking awesome though!
  • crispindorsett01
    October 20, 2009
    crispindorsett01
    great movie a wonderful story 2 bad ppl nolonger live up 3 their word
  • samanthaseaotter
    October 7, 2009
    samanthaseaotter
    Great cast and lots of fun. Suspect it's not too accurate though.
  • RachelJezel
    September 8, 2009
    RachelJezel
    Certain aspects of this film are pretty sick, involving Roth's character. Otherwise, it's a well-told narrative.
  • charlesbronson
    August 31, 2009
    charlesbronson
    Will Guthrie: I hear you back-stabbed Tam Sibbald.
    Robert Roy MacGregor: Were you and Tam kin?
    Will Guthrie: Near enough. I shagged his sister.
    Killearn: [whispered aside] Likely so did Tam.

    Tim Roth's performance in this one is sick,he's brilliant.Perfect badguy.The story is s...( read more)imple but well told,the scenery beautiful and i love the soundtrack. Liam Neeson and John Hurt are perfectly cast for this,both of them did a great job.Jessica Lange provides a strong female lead.Thoroughly enjoyable movie,one that I'll likely see again.The sword fight at the end is one of the best I've seen.

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Rob Roy Trivia

  • What is the movie that stars Liam Neeson, Tim Roth, & Jessica Lange, and takes place in Scotland?  Answer »
  • Which actor links the movies, Rob Roy, Batman Begins, Star Wars I 'The Phantom Menace' & Schindlers List?  Answer »
  • He raped Liam Neesons wife in "Rob Roy" - he spent most of the film led on the floor bleeding to death in "Resevoir Dogs" - he was a junkie friend to Tupac in "Gridlock'd" - and he held up a restaurant in "Pulp Fiction"......Name him  Answer »
  • Which actor has played these roles: Craig Schwartz Captain John Gaff Rob Gordon Ed Martin Q. Blank Vince Larkin Roy Dillon Denny Lachance Eddie Thomas Nicholas Easter Jonathan Trager   Answer »
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