Braveheart is a 1995 American epic historical romance-drama film directed by Mel Gibson and written by Randall Wallace. It stars Gibson as William Wallace, an ambitious Scottish warrior who led the Scots against their English overlords.
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won both the BAFTA Award for Best Film and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.
Contents
All About Of Braveheart (1995)
Storyline
Following the death of Alexander III of Scotland, who left no successor to the throne, King Edward “Longshanks” invaded and conquered Scotland in 1280. Young William Wallace sees the execution of numerous Scottish lords by Longshanks, loses his father and brother in the battle against the English, and is brought abroad on a pilgrimage around Europe by his paternal uncle Argyle, who educates Wallace.
Longshanks subsequently awarded his noblemen land and privileges in Scotland, including the jus Primae Noctis. Meanwhile, now an adult, Wallace travels to Scotland and falls in love with his boyhood buddy Murron MacClannough, whom he married secretly.
Wallace saves Murron from being raped by English troops, but while Wallace fights the soldiers off, Murron is apprehended and publicly killed. In retaliation, Wallace leads his tribe in a battle against the English garrison in his hometown, and the surviving garrison returns to England with a message of revolt for Longshanks.
Longshanks instructs his son, Prince Edward, to halt Wallace by whatever means necessary when he meets the French King in order to solidify England’s alliance with France. Wallace rebels against the English with his comrade Hamish, and as his fame grows, hundreds of Scots from the neighboring clans join him.
Wallace leads his troops to victory at Stirling Bridge, where he decapitates English general Cheltenham. Because Prince Edward fails to send soldiers to York, Wallace is able to raid the city and murder Longshanks’ nephew, whose severed head is handed to the King. Wallace seeks the help of Robert the Bruce, the son of Scottish lord Robert the Elder and a candidate for the Scottish throne.
Robert is ruled by his leper father, who desires to ensure his son’s Scottish kingship by surrendering to the English. Longshanks sends his son’s wife, Isabella of France, to attempt to negotiate with Wallace as a diversion for the launching of another invading army in Scotland.
The Climax of the Braveheart (1995) movie
In 1297, the majority of Scotland was under English rule. The Scottish lord William Wallace fights against his oppressors and rallies the Scots to stand up for their independence. Their successful battle leads to Wallace’s capture and subsequent trial by an English court, but he is ultimately executed for treason.
Centuries later, in 1995, people are celebrating Wallace’s heroics at a museum dedicated to his memory. Young Mary (Atholl Anderson) looks on admiringly as her father tells the story of this remarkable man. Suddenly, she witnesses a disturbance outside and rushes out to see police officers arresting a man for vandalism. Recognizing the man as Wallace, Mary’s father pleads with them to release him but to no avail.
As the officer’s lead Wallace away, Mary vows that she will find out more about her heroics and his life story. She tracks down her ancestor, who still lives in Scotland, and asks him about Wallace’s time there. Her ancestor reveals that despite being executed for treason, William Wallace is actually revered as a national hero in Scotland, which deeply hurts English feelings towards their northern neighbor.
Meanwhile, back at the museum, Mary alerts everyone inside to the disturbance outside and urges them to get away. As they make their escape, Mary’s father is fatally shot by an unknown assailant. Devastated by her loss, Mary begins a long journey of self-discovery that leads her to uncover the true history of William Wallace and Scotland’s struggle for independence.
The Story Behind the Braveheart (1995) Movie
Braveheart is a 1995 epic film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mel Gibson, Patrick McGoohan, Sean Connery, and Stephen Dillane. The film was based on the William Wallace epic poem The Brus. It was written by Randall Wallace and Gibson, who also starred in the film.
The film tells the story of William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish warrior who led a group of rebels against the English occupation of Scotland. In 1305, as Edward I of England prepared to march on Scotland, Wallace led a successful military campaign that won him acclaim and the sympathies of his people.
However, Edward refused to recognize Wallace’s legitimacy as King and pursued a policy of intimidation and brutality against the Scots. In 1314, with Edward continuing to send large armies northward, Wallace was finally forced into exile in France. There he gathered an army of French volunteers and returned to fight England again. This time he succeeded in defeating the English at the Battle of Falkirk in October 1346 – thus securing Scottish independence.
While Braveheart is unquestionably one of Mel Gibson’s most memorable and acclaimed films, it also has a more than modestly controversial past. That is because the original screenplay for Braveheart contains numerous historical inaccuracies.
Movie cast and characters
Sophie Marceau
Sophie Marceau is a French actress. She has been nominated for several awards and has received many accolades. She was the winner of the César Award for Best Actress in 1996.
Catherine McCormack
Catherine McCormack played a vital role in the film. She was cast as Melisande, a Scottish noblewoman who falls in love with Robert the Bruce. Melisande is a woman of great beauty and passion. Braveheart is a 1995 American epic war film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mel Gibson, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, James Caviezel, Michael Byrne, Angus Macfadyen, and Alan Doyle.
Angus Macfadyen
Angus Macfadyen is a Scottish actor. He has appeared in many films and television shows, including Braveheart. His roles have taken him all over the world, and he is highly regarded for his acting abilities.
Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan is a Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter. He starred in The Prisoner’s television series and was also notable for his role as Number 6 in the cult spy film The Six Million Dollar Man.
Brian Cox
Brian Cox is a Scottish actor. He has starred in numerous films, particularly science fiction and historical dramas. His roles have taken him all over the world, and he is highly regarded for his acting abilities.
Awards
During the 1995 Oscar season, Braveheart was nominated for several Oscars, although it was not considered a big contender by many, including Apollo 13, Il Postino: The Postman, Leaving Las Vegas, Sense and Sensibility, and The Usual Suspects. The picture was not considered a strong Oscar candidate until it won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director at the 53rd Golden Globe Awards.
Braveheart gotten Academy Award nominations when the nominees for the 68th Academy Awards were revealed, and a month later, it won five, including Best Picture, Best Director for Gibson, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Makeup.
Braveheart is the ninth film to win Best Picture with no acting nominations, and one of only three films to win Best Picture without being nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, the others being The Shape of Water in 2017 and Green Book the following year.
The screenplay for the film was also nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay. The film was named one of the 30 Most Significant Independent Films of the Last 30 Years by the Independent Film & Television Alliance in 2010.
The Ending of Braveheart (1995)
Wallace assassinates Lochlan and Mornay for their treachery and launches a guerilla campaign against the English with the help of Isabella, with whom he ultimately has an affair. Robert arranges a meeting with Wallace in Edinburgh, but his father, along with other lords, plots to capture and bring Wallace to the English.
After learning of his father’s deceit, Robert disowns and exiles him. Isabella exacts revenge on Longshanks, who is now terminally ill and unable to speak, by telling him that his bloodline will be destroyed upon his death. Because she is pregnant with Wallace’s child and will ensure that Prince Edward spends as little time on the throne as possible before Wallace’s child replaces him.
Wallace is taken before an English justice in London, charged with high treason, and sentenced to public torture and execution. Wallace refuses to surrender to the King even as he is being hung, drawn, and quartered. The onlookers, touched by the Scotsman’s bravery, began pleading for compassion on Wallace’s behalf.
The magistrate gives him one more opportunity, asking him to repeat the word “Mercy,” and he would be permitted a fast death. Instead, Wallace yells, “Freedom!” and his voice reverberates across the area, even reaching the dying Longshanks. Wallace gets a glimpse of Murron amid the throng, smiling at him, just before he is decapitated.
In 1314, Robert, now King of Scotland, marched a Scottish army in front of a ceremonial line of English soldiers on the battlefields of Bannockburn, where he was meant to accept English dominion officially. Instead, he invokes Wallace’s memory, pleading with his soldiers to fight beside him as they did Wallace.
Hamish points Wallace’s sword towards the English army, and he and the Scots sing Wallace’s name as Robert leads them into combat against the English, granting the Scots their independence.
Overall reviews
Audience analysis
Critics generally praised the ending of Braveheart. Rotten Tomatoes has a rating of 92% based on reviews from 39 critics, with an average score of 8/10. The website’s critical consensus reads: “A stirring epic depiction of Scottish bravery in the face of English oppression, Robert Rodríguez’s Braveheart achieves iconic status thanks to its stirring story and directorial gifts.” Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 79 out of 100, based on 17 reviews, indicating “universal acclaim.”
Some reviewers found fault with some aspects or plot points within the film, but most reviewers considered Braveheart to be a worthy and engaging film with a powerful message.
An audience analysis carried out in the UK by ComScore found that 76% of those who watched Braveheart rated it as either very good or excellent, making it one of the most successful films ever released in British cinemas.
Critic’s analysis
Critics complimented Gibson’s directing and portrayal as Wallace, as well as the performances of the film’s cast, narrative, production values, Horner’s soundtrack, and the fight scenes. CNN named the portrayal of the Battle of Stirling Bridge as one of the finest battles in movie history. However, it was also criticized for its portrayal of history.
The film has a 79 percent acceptance rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 7.40/10 based on 84 reviews. According to the site’s consensus, “Mel Gibson’s Braveheart deserves its epic length by offering enough sweeping action, drama, and romance to match its ambition.”
The film has a Metacritic score of 68 out of 100 based on 20 critic reviews, indicating “generally good reviews.” CinemaScore polled audiences and assigned the picture an A- on a scale of A to F.
The New York Times’s Caryn James lauded the picture, calling it “one of the most stunning entertainments in years.” “An action epic with the spirit of the Hollywood swordplay classics and the gritty savagery of The Road Warrior,” Roger Ebert said of the film, which received 3.5 stars out of four.
Gene Siskel noted in a favorable review, “In addition to staging war scenes superbly, Gibson also manages to reproduce the squalor and spirit of 700 years ago.” “Though the picture dawdles a little with the shimmering, dappled love stuff between Wallace with a Scottish peasant and a French princess, the action will pin you to your seat,” said Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers.
Visual effects
“Braveheart” was shot primarily on location in Scotland and England, with some additional scenes filmed at Shepperton Studios in London. Production designer Stephen Walters based the film’s setting largely on 12th century Scottish history, including contemporary depictions of Edinburgh as it would have appeared during Wallace’s time.
The costumes were designed by Lindy Hemming, who had collaborated with Gibson previously on “The Passion of the Christ.”
The first use of digital effects for an era epic was made for “Braveheart.” For example, a fight between two knights where one swings his sword around so fast that it becomes a blur was achieved through the use of motion capture and computer-generated imagery.
Conclusion
A re-telling of the famous tale of William Wallace and his fight for Scottish independence, Braveheart is based on the novel by Mel Gibson, released in 1995. It is one of the highest-grossing films of all time and won many awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The film tells the story of William Wallace (Mel Gibson), a highlander from Scotland who was betrayed by King Edward I (Patrick McGoohan) and had to flee his country in order to escape death.
FAQs
1.What’s the Plot of Braveherat?
Ans: There is no one answer to this question as the plot of Braveheart can be interpreted in many ways. However, some key points that could be relevant include:
- The story follows William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against the English forces led by Edward I.
- Wallace becomes a symbol of resistance against tyranny and is celebrated for his bravery and heroism.
- The film has been praised for its high level of historical accuracy and was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
2.What Is the Message of Braveheart?
Ans: Braveheart is a 1995 American epic war film directed and co-written by Mel Gibson. The film is based on the novel of the same name by William Wallace, who tells the story of his life, from childhood to adulthood, during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
The central theme of Braveheart is the power of freedom and independence, and the Battle of Stirling Bridge, which is depicted in the film as a pivotal moment in Wallace’s rebellion against English rule.
3.Is Braveheart a Great Movie?
Ans: There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as everyone has their own opinion. However, if you are looking for a great movie to watch, Braveheart would be a great choice.
4.What Makes Braveheart a Good Movie?
- Braveheart is a good movie because it is based on historical events and it is well-made.
- Braveheart is a good movie because it has a great storyline that is easy to follow.
- Braveheart is a good movie because it features amazing acting by all the cast members.
5.Who Wrote Braveheart, and How Did He Do It?
Ans: William Wallace wrote Braveheart, and it is a historical epic drama that tells the story of Wallace, a Scottish warrior who led a rebellion against the English in the early 13th century.
Wallace is an interesting character because he is able to tap into the spirit of Scotland and use it to fight against the odds. He is also able to inspire others to fight for what they believe in, even when all seems lost.
Braveheart was a huge success when it was released in 1995, and it won several awards, including Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It has since been remade twice, most recently in 2013.
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