Forced into exile by the English after being crowned King of Scotland, legendary warrior Robert the Bruce fights to reclaim the throne.
Chris Pine
Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Florence Pugh
Elizabeth Burgh
Billy Howle
Edward, Prince of Wales
Sam Spruell
Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke
Tony Curran
Angus Og Macdonald, Lord of Islay
Callan Mulvey
John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
James Cosmo
Robert Bruce Senior
Stephen Dillane
King Edward I of England
Steven Cree
Sir Christopher Seton
Alastair Mackenzie
John Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl
Chris Fulton
Euan Bruce
Lorne MacFadyen
Neil Bruce
Jack Greenlees
Alexander Bruce
Rebecca Robin
Queen Margaret of England
Paul Blair
William Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews
Jonny Phillips
Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster
Ben Clifford
Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall
Jamie Maclachlan
Roger de Mowbray
Duncan Lacroix
Henry de Percy, Baron Percy
Kevin Mains
John Macduff, Earl of Buchan
Jamie Michie
Gilbert de la Hey, Barron of Errol
Gilly Gilchrist
Maol Choluim I, Earl of Lennox
Daniel Jackson
Sir Ingram de Umfraville
Duncan Airlie James
Henry de Beaumont, Baron Beaumont
Philip Kingscott
Nervous Aide
Vicki Liddelle
Margaret de Burgh
Gemma McElhinney
Lady Christina Seton
Stephen McMillan
Drew Forfar, Squire
Stephen McCole
Seamus Barber, Chamberlain
Josie O'Brien
Marjorie Bruce
Meg Fraser
Aileen Walker, Lady in Waiting
Elaine McKergow
Chamberlain Gayle Irvine
George Docherty
Iain Calder, Farmer
Robin Laing
Bishop of St. Andrews
Laurie Ventry
John de Kininmund, Bishop of Brechin
Matt Stokoe
John Segrave, Baron of Seagrave
Ferosa Mackenzie
Mary Coutts, Pie Seller
Ron Donachie
Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow
Niall Greig Fulton
Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of March
Rab Affleck
Alexander le Scrymgeour
Kim Allan
Isabella Macduff, Countess of Buchan
Gavin Mitchell
Archibald Mason, Soldier
Tam Dean Burn
John Macdougall of Argyll
Benny Young
Lord Simon Fraser
Clive Russell
Lord Mackinnon of Skye
Jenny Hulse
Aine Macdonald, Lady of Islay
Margaret Fraser
Stern Nun
Jamie Pigott
English Soldier
Frank Gilhooley
Thomas Dickson, Castellan
Barnaby Brown
Singing Pastor
Gerry Lynch
Terrified Servant
Ben Cuveller
French Soldier
Luke Mackenzie
Luke Kintail, Serf
Arthur Mackenzie
Arthur Kintail, Serf
Simon Tait
Doctor
Daisy Littlefield
Young Girl
Tommy Jay Brennan
Villager
Gary McCormack
Thomas Potator, Farmer
Director, Screenplay
David Mackenzie
Screenplay
Bathsheba Doran
Screenplay
James MacInnes
November 23, 2018
8
***A superior and realistic medieval film***
“Outlaw King” (2018) is the sequel to the events shown in “Braveheart” (1995). The story begins in 1304 during the last year of William Wallace’s life. After Wallace is drawn-and-quartered, Robert the Bruce (Chris Pine) takes up the torch for Scotland’s war of independence over England. Disregarding the excellent epilogue, the movie ends with the Battle of Loudoun Hill in 1307 where Robert the Bruce takes on a 3000-man English force with only 600 Scots.
"Outlaw King" is actually better than the overrated “Braveheart”: Chris Pine is an all-around superior protagonist to Gibson; Florence Pugh is more beautiful compared to Sophie Marceau (or Catherine McCormack) in a petite, curvy way; not to mention she’s a more interesting character; the locations are better (even though the locations in "Braveheart" are excellent); the music edges out the score to "Braveheart"; the movie's more streamlined and consistent; and the film's all-around more compelling and realistic.
True, "Outlaw King" doesn't top Patrick McGoohan's delightfully diabolic portrayal of the pompous Longshanks nor does it have the superb defenestration sequence. But it lacks the sluggish start of "Braveheart" (the opening 25 minutes); the eye-rolling betrayal scene; the equally eye-rolling episode where Wallace rides into a noble's bed chamber on a freakin' horse and easily escapes (Why Sure!); and, lastly, the overlong and dull execution sequence in “Braveheart” wherein the Christ symbolism is laid on too thick.
It’s also more historically accurate in that it doesn't have the Scots wearing kilts or painting their faces, nor does it wrongly have Robert the Bruce betraying Wallace, which never happened (although he initially disowned him publicly, obviously for political reasons, he secretly supported his war effort and openly admitted it later).
While “Outlaw King” is more historically accurate, it has its own less significant inaccuracies: Elizabeth & Majorie actually escaped Kildrummy Castle, along with Robert’s sisters, but were found by Edward’s men shortly later; Edward II (Billy Howle) wasn't even at the Battle of Loudoun Hill so, naturally, the duel with Edward II never happened; actually, Edward I (Stephen Dillane) was not yet dead when this battle was fought in 1307 so his son was not yet crowned; Queen Elizabeth wasn't put in a cage, but Robert’s sister was; the English were already familiar with the Scottish hedgehog formation by the time of Loudoun Hill and, in fact, destroyed this formation with arrows nine years earlier at Falkirk; Elizabeth was held in captivity for over seven years before Robert could negotiate her return in 1314 after his great victory at the Battle of Bannockburn (the movie makes it seem much shorter).
Closing word: If you like realistic medieval flicks like the excellent “Tristan + Isolde” (2006) be sure to check out “Outlaw King.”
The film runs 2 hours, 1 minute and was shot mostly in Scotland, but also England. Whilst this is a Netflix movie, it cost a whopping $120 million and looks it.
GRADE: B+/A-