Robin Hood

Spoilers ahead, you’ve been warned…

I’ve been a long time fan of Ridley Scott‘s films. Since I was a kid and first saw films like Alien, Blade Runner and Legend I was hooked. Some people might say he stumbled for a few years with pictures like Thelma & Louise and G.I. Jane, I for one enjoyed both, but most would agree he hit home runs with Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. There have been mixed reviews of some of his newer films like Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven and American Gangster, again I liked them although preferred the directors cut of Kingdom of Heaven more than the theater cut. His latest film is a retelling of the legendary archer and bandit Robin Hood.

To tell you the story of Robin Hood would be a little difficult because every time a version is made details of the story change. Over all it is the tale of a man who becomes a bandit and with his followers, often referred to as his merry men, take up arms against the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham and protect the people by stealing from the corrupt rich and giving to the poor.

But this film isn’t that story. This is the tale of military archer Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) who has fought with King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) during the crusades and is returning from the war. As the army marches north it stops along the way to pillage cities in France as to not return to England broke and empty handed. While attacking the last city before meeting with the barge to take them home the King is killed and the army retreats.

The one of the Kings nobles, Robert Loxley, takes the crown to return it to the Kings son, soon to be new King, Prince John. Loxley and his group of Knights were attack and killed by Godfrey (Mark Strong), a friend to Prince John (Oscar Isaac) who was working for the King of France. Robin and his group seeing a group of English being attacked fought back forcing the French to run. Loxley with his dying breath asks Robin to return his sword to his father Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow) which he agrees to do.

Robin realizes he and his men won’t be allowed on the barge home as commoners so he takes the identity of Robert Loxley while his men take the gear of the Knights. The pretend nobles take the crown and use the barge to return to England. After handing over the crown to pampered Prince John, Robin and his men head to Nottingham where they are meant to split and go their own ways.

When Robin goes to the home of Sir Walter Loxley  to return the sword and ask about an inscription found on the hilt, he runs into the now widowed Marion Loxley (Cate Blanchett). After reporting the news of Robert Loxley’s death to Marion, she takes him to Walter Loxley to return the sword. To his surprise Robin is asked by Walter to continue playing the part of his son Robert because Walter is old, blind, and weak and with Marion being a woman the family lands would be claimed by the crown. Robin agrees to the deception.

Meanwhile, King John sends out Godfrey to collect taxes and Godfrey uses his power to anger the people in an attempt to force an uprising causing the Kings forces to be split between the uprising citizens and the incoming forces from France.

Robin gathers his men to help fight against the invading army.

Originally I was pretty disappointed with the movie. I didn’t feel it was a Robin Hood film, but more like a sequel to Kingdom of Heaven. Then I got into an argument with a buddy of mine over Guy Richie’s Sherlock Holmes flick. He was saying Holmes needed the traditional hat and pipe and shouldn’t be an action hero. My thought was we’ve seen that version and there are plenty of classic examples that do it fine. My guess was Mr. Richie wanted to do something different, and I thought making the fight and action scenes  unfold using intellect was an interesting approach. Once I had debated that a new twist to an old subject was refreshing, I couldn’t go the other way with Robin Hood.

If you are a purest Robin Hood fan who looks forward to Robin doing trick shots at the Sheriffs competition, then this isn’t the Robin Hood you’re looking for. If you want something in the vain of Kingdom of Heaven meets Gladiator then this will be your favorite movie ever.

Russell Crowe played Robin like he plays every character, quite and bruiting. There where times I forgot I was watching a Robin Hood film and thought it was Maximus from Gladiator. Mark Strong as Godfrey was a convincing enough antagonist, but he has had a lot of practice this last year playing the bad guy that the performance didn’t stand out. Even Cate Blanchett who is normally a screen darling didn’t seem to shine as brightly as normal. The people who really seemed to stand out to me where two fairly small parts. One of which, Friar Tuck (Mark Addy) and the other Sir Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow). Addy was a perfect fit for Tuck and brought some humor to a fairly dry movie.  Sydow playing the strange pretend father to Crowe’s Robin was probably the best character in the film even though he has less that ten minutes screen time. Between his instant likable personality and the glee his character seems to exude, Sydow is a blessing to the film.

The actor that made the biggest impression on me was Oscar Isaac as Prince John. I hadn’t seen Isaac before his performance in Robin Hood, but he felt very convening as spoiled John and as the story developed I really thought he was learning and growing only to have the carpet pull from under me when he reverts to his head strong ways.

Overall the look and feel of the film was that of a well made movie. I understand we are getting a different telling of the Robin Hood mythology and I’m fine with that. I even feel this telling makes sense in a pseudo-historic way. I think in the end it just wasn’t the adventure I was hoping for. I think I’ll watch it again once it comes to Blu Ray, I’m sure there will be the three hour directors cut, and try it out in a different mind set but for now if you want a recommendation for Robin Hood check out Mel Brooks: Men in Tights or my favorite version was done in England during the 1980’s call Robin of Sherwood and stars a young Ray Winstone as Wil Scarlet.