The Patriot is a historical war epic that takes place in 1776, during the American Revolution. We follow the story of Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson), a veteran of the French and Indian War, and a father of seven children. During the heat of war, Benjamin is called upon by West Virginia to vote on whether or not the state should support the Continental Army. Hoping for a peaceful life for him and his family, Benjamin votes against it, but he is outnumbered and the State is forced into war. Immediately following the assembly, Benjamin’s eldest son, Gabriel, enlists in the continental army even though this was against his father’s wishes.
Two years have passed and Charleston, West Virginia is now under the control of the British, Gabriel is still fighting for the continental army, and Benjamin and the rest of his family are living in fear of the war going on around them. Things go south when a battle reaches Benjamin’s farm and the family is forced to care for the wounded. This leads to Colonel William Tavington (Jason Isaacs) and the British Dragoons coming to arrest all wounded Continentals, including Gabriel who was present during the nearby battle. Benjamin’s second eldest, Thomas, tries to stop them from taking Gabriel but is shot in the back by Tavington. This event sends Benjamin into a state of disarray. He soon snaps out of it and quickly jumps at the opportunity to retrieve Gabriel from the redcoats before they hang him. The scene that follows is the most badass revolutionary war scene you will ever see. Benjamin and his two youngest sons, embark on a mission to free Gabriel from a battalion of red coats. Benjamin Strategically places several guns around the British’ path so that he may fire many bullets quickly. He hides his two sons beside a log, gives them each a gun, and tells them to “aim small, miss small”. The ambush ensues and Benjamin, along with his sons, take out nearly the whole battalion. Gabriel is freed but in the midst of the brutality, one member of the battalion was unintentionally left alive. After this scene, we are left with a good idea of who Benjamin was before he had a family; a brutal soldier with a passion for vengeance.
After witnessing the power of the British, Benjamin decides the only way to protect his family is to help win this war. He is soon made colonel of the local militia and appoints Gabriel under his command. From here we witness many events that help lead to the end of the Revolutionary War, including the recruiting and training of militia, battles between American and British soldiers, and an epic conclusion that will blow your mind.
Aside from the story, The Patriot features incredible acting from incredible actors. The cast features many award-winning actors, all of which execute amazing portrayals of men and women during the late 1700’s. Mel Gibson and Heath Leger play Benjamin and Gabriel, a father and son of the revolutionary war. I enjoyed every second these two were together. Their story is driven by a father’s love for his son during such a dangerous era. They sold each emotion they presented and each speech they gave made me want to fight right alongside them. As for Colonel Tavington, while Jason Isaacs played a terrific antagonist, I felt as though he wasn’t “real” enough. I kept thinking to myself, “Wow, he is way too irrational to be a leader in an army”.
The film also features outstanding camera work from director Roland Emmerich. I’m usually not one to notice camera angles right off the bat but Emmerich’s shots were too good to miss. For example, there is a scene where Gabriel rides into town to recruit a militia for the army. He stops in front of a tree where three people have been hanged. We only see their legs but under their legs is a church in the distance. It’s a perfect mix of dark and light emotions. Chills ran down my spine and that’s exactly what Emmerich was going for.
Paired with excellent camera work was the undeniably brilliant score written by John Williams. There’s no denying that John Williams is one of the greatest movie scorers of all time and it is reflected in The Patriot. From beginning to end, Williams somehow captures every emotion you should be feeling. Just a warning; prepare to cry.
In my opinion, The Patriot was an excellent piece of film. I’m not usually interested in historical films but I was fully engaged from beginning to end which. From a fantastic art style to terrific acting, this movie has it all. Even if you don’t like movies, you should watch it for the historical significance. It taught me a significant amount of history that I never knew about the Revolutionary War. Seriously, I would recommend anyone who hasn’t seen this film to give it a try.
The Patriot is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and digital. Get your very own copy today.
