Rob Roy
(R, 2:19:18, Released 1995)
| Genres: | Drama, Action & Adventure |
| Release Date: | Apr 7, 1995 |
| DVD Release Date: | Aug 27, 1997 |
| Starring: | Andrew Keir, Eric Stoltz, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Liam Neeson, Shirley Henderson, Tim Roth |
| Directed by: | Michael Caton-Jones |
| Synopsis: | 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 historical 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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My Friends' Reviews
Other Top Reviews
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October 20, 2009
great movie a wonderful story 2 bad ppl nolonger live up 3 their word
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October 7, 2009
Great cast and lots of fun. Suspect it's not too accurate though.
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September 8, 2009
Certain aspects of this film are pretty sick, involving Roth's character. Otherwise, it's a well-told narrative.
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August 31, 2009
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 simple 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. -
August 30, 2009
ONE of my FAVORITES..a must see!
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August 20, 2009
Liam Neeson is in it so I NEED 2 SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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August 8, 2009
beautiful cinematography, lavish settings, and great talent but felt a little contrived throughout
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August 7, 2009
One of his best movies
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August 6, 2009
thanks for making this a movie available for us to appreciate.
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July 24, 2009
watched it on plane.. and it just made the flight even worse... but it was probably only liam neeson fault again...
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July 19, 2009
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 THE FUCKING SHIT DOH!!!!!!!!
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July 9, 2009
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July 4, 2009
A film about honor, love, and tradition. Jessica Lange is amazing.
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June 19, 2009
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June 18, 2009
I want to see it not the reviews thank you MJP.
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June 12, 2009
Good acting to a good story.
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June 7, 2009
great film 10 out of 10
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May 14, 2009
How cruel can life be.
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April 21, 2009
Tim Roth was great, and there were some great music, and some good lines, but lots of other things didn't work.
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April 8, 2009
good movie but very anticlimactic. it followed a very strict pattern and did nothing unexpected.
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March 20, 2009
Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange. Acting doesn't get much better. And the story of Rob Roy is just as much of a hero story as Braveheart, and a tad more realistic.
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March 16, 2009
Top notch synchronization of the sword clashes-political backdrop,a perfect action/adventure film,possibly the best you can retrieve from mr. uneven Caton-Jones,Lang is a miscast but Roth is one of greatest bad guys of the 90's.An overall highly enjoyable (if pseudo-historical) flick,with that darn beautiful Highlands trademark and leftovers from Errol Flynn types of films.
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February 1, 2009
Liam Neeson embodies the title role with a quiet, intense dignity, a man who prefers domesticity to action. Tim Roth's Cunningham is the perfect, frightening villain.
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February 1, 2009
dont mess with someone who will otherwise be left with nothing
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January 20, 2009
A traditional adventure story with modern day elements, you'll be enthralled by Neeson's quest for justice against forces of blue-blood evil set to destroy him and his clan. The dialogue is delicious and period-correct, it's almost Shakesperean. It features two of filmdom's greatest showcases: arguably, the best and most thrilling swordfight ever, and Tim Roth as one of the best villains I've seen, a sadistic and cruel master swordsman fop you'll relish to hate.
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January 10, 2009
Very Good But Very Gritty.
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January 1, 2009
Its a history period film with honor, love, betrayal and action. It is what good writing in a historical movie should be
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December 27, 2008
great movie...outstanding sword fight at the end...
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December 5, 2008
It's good. Came out around the same time as Braveheart. Not as much action as I thought it would be. But hey it's a historical film. Has a good cast.
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December 4, 2008
Neeson kicks ass!! He is incredible in this movie, the plot is intriguing and the actors give a REALLY amazing performance. The Scottish Highlands are nicely portrayed, and it made me think a lot about the book Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, for any of you out there who are fans, just like I am lol. TARTANS ROCK!!!
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November 20, 2008
this film was largely overlooked, as it came out the same year as braveheart. based on the real life charactor Rob Roy Mcgregor, a sometimes thief with incredible ideals of honor is made into an outlaw and loses his home because of treachery by some nobles and his unwillingness to lie for his lord. fantastic performance by neeson, and a wonderful dandified evil villian by tim roth. jessica lange and eric stolz also do a good job.
wyatte -
November 2, 2008
Not nearly as compelling as it should have been.
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October 29, 2008
i enjoyed this movie, would recommend
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October 7, 2008
Best. Swordfight. Ever.
Jessica Lange was robbed.! She should have won an Oscar for this role. -
August 26, 2008
"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 adventure 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. -
August 24, 2008
One man's struggle to keep his honor among many who don't. Liam Neeson and Tim Roth are excellent.
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August 17, 2008
Hardly profound or especially historical, but this one has yet to grow old on me. Has nothing to do with the Walter Scott novel, despite claims at the time. Tim Roth is perfectly nasty.
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July 13, 2008
Bigger than life hero, fantastic story, exciting swordfights, one of the best villains in film history.
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July 2, 2008
Excellent story. Love Liam Neason
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June 21, 2008
Great film- very big in scale, and hard to watch certain parts.
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June 16, 2008
my favorite movie about this region besides bravehart
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June 10, 2008
L'histoire est bien... les images sont resplendissantes..
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June 10, 2008
Breathtaking scenery.
