Film Review: Outlaw King Is The Braveheart of Our Time
Netflix’s Outlaw King feels like The Braveheart of our time, and conveys an inadvertent message: humanity has always been screwed up. This must-see is based on the true story of Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and his fight to keep his rightful throne as King of Scotland from England’s Edward, Prince of Wales. Themes of war, genocide, and occupational reign in this historical drama. Yet, this story begins in 1304, but its truths are still relevant in 2018.
Written and directed by David Mackenzie, Outlaw King is both beautiful and brutal. Its battle scenes feel guttural like a GOT’s Battle of the Bastards on loop. In a very twisted way, its basic serving of violence stands out in a movie landscape, currently, offering fantastical battles. There are no aliens, superheroes, or different color bloods. Instead, Outlaw Kings shows the consistently recycled viciousness of foreign occupation, and how it takes the citizen of a nation to rise and remind outsiders that they have humanity. For this, Chris Pine’s performance and screened romance with Florence Pugh’s Elizabeth Burgh are standout “breathers” in this engulfing war epic.
Chris Pine as Robert gives his performance to date. He is a ripe blend of kind and understanding but strong and never to be underestimated. He shows a man’s heart is the most royal things about him, which is why you understand Elizabeth’s refusal to give up her crown, her man, and their crusade. Pugh’s is impactful in this film, and proves she can be a memorable leading lady. She emanates the fearlessness and loyalty of Elizabeth as a human being that believes in love and freedom. The chemistry between her and Chris is so natural, and makes you wish there were more scenes between them. Their love is proof that a firm spirit will always find a person worthy of their softness. Still, make no mistake! This film IS about war, and you cannot escape it.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, stands out as war brute with a fiery soul. He adds nuance to the idea of “war mongerer” because James’ life and inheritances have been stripped from him thanks to England. He is incredibly agile on the field, but is only so out of a refusal to let the men that took his life take his country. The sentiment reigns throughout the film that makes you understand that war can have an “insult to injury” dynamic. You take my rights, my property, and now you want to solidify your thievery by completely taking my country?! I think not! Hence, after seeing outlaw King, you want to start a petition to free Scotland from England right now! Forget Brexit, Outlaw King makes you want to vote for Scotexit!
Through both its violence and picturesque cinematography of Scottish lands, you become enraptured by a history and culture that does not get that much detailed attention. This, inadvertently, reminded me of a truth I do not like; history is written according to victories, not moralities. While, sometimes, good guys win, other times, bad guys triumph. Outlaw King excellently shows how much luck, fight, and suffering Robert must undergo to win. By all means, this is a tale of a good man who victoriously becomes king, but, again, the lack of prominence of this tale is proof history fades out the stories of peoples/ nations that lose.
There is a moral lesson to every tale, especially in Outlaw King. For two hours, you are reminded of what it is to have resilience against those who believe you have or should have nothing. Thus, you marvel how the Scots, from Pine’s Robert to Taylor Johnson’s James, hold even an ounce of graceful dignity while fighting to take back what was stolen from them. Outlaw King comes out on Netflix on November 9.
