OUTLAW KING (2018)
How times have changed. This review demonstrates the passing of times and the move towards the future as this is my first ever "straight to Netflix" review. Prior to this, anything with the prefix "straight to..." would send me screaming to the hills as it would mean sub standard plots, dreadful past their sell by date actors and ZX Spectrum grade FX. Granted we still have a bit of this with Nic Cage doing the rounds recently but thankfully Outlaw King is something different.
Outlaw King tells the tale of Scottish King Robert the Bruce and his turbulent rise to the throne. Chris Pine (Star Trek, Hell of High Water) stars as Robert the Bruce alongside debutant Rebecca Robin as Queen Margaret. They are supported by Stephen Dillane (The Hours, Game of Thrones), Billy Howle (Dunkirk, The Seagull), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron) and the ever enigmatic Tony Curran (Red Road, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). It is directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Starred Up).
The performances are robust and believable. There is a fair bit of mud and grime to act through in this film as the thirteen hundreds were not a pretty place. Pine's performance is outstanding and plays "Scottish" very well. Newcomer Robin embodies the heart of the film and if there is minor criticism I would have liked a bit more screen time for her to flex her emotional pull on the Bruce. The cast all bust a gut to set the tone and invite you into the immersive impact of the film, collaboratively bringing Outlaw King to life.
There a few heroes aside Robert the Bruce within Outlaw King. The battle scenes are epic. They depict war as terrifying, bloody and savage with all credit to the stunt, special effects and editing teams who combine to spill the carnage into your subscribed homes. The spotlight should also be on the costume and make up team as this is a massive movie with more to get wrong than right. Each actor, from extra to main has to be period precise and this was delivered scene after scene.
Director David Mackenzie movies are always about heart and strength of character whether the story is relating to bank robbers, prisoners or in this case a king who has does the right thing. His overall take on a fairly common story is original and mixes graphic detail and period accuracy with a drop of artistic licence.
Outlaw King is a Netflix film that has all the components that was promised when the streaming service first ventured into original content. It has "A" list actors, up and coming directors with a healthy budget attached. All this means very little if the film isn't very good. I am pleased to report that David Mackenzie's Outlaw King is a powerful, well acted story that is 2 hrs of sheer entertainment.
More please, Netflix.
Outlaw King tells the tale of Scottish King Robert the Bruce and his turbulent rise to the throne. Chris Pine (Star Trek, Hell of High Water) stars as Robert the Bruce alongside debutant Rebecca Robin as Queen Margaret. They are supported by Stephen Dillane (The Hours, Game of Thrones), Billy Howle (Dunkirk, The Seagull), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron) and the ever enigmatic Tony Curran (Red Road, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). It is directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Starred Up).
The performances are robust and believable. There is a fair bit of mud and grime to act through in this film as the thirteen hundreds were not a pretty place. Pine's performance is outstanding and plays "Scottish" very well. Newcomer Robin embodies the heart of the film and if there is minor criticism I would have liked a bit more screen time for her to flex her emotional pull on the Bruce. The cast all bust a gut to set the tone and invite you into the immersive impact of the film, collaboratively bringing Outlaw King to life.
There a few heroes aside Robert the Bruce within Outlaw King. The battle scenes are epic. They depict war as terrifying, bloody and savage with all credit to the stunt, special effects and editing teams who combine to spill the carnage into your subscribed homes. The spotlight should also be on the costume and make up team as this is a massive movie with more to get wrong than right. Each actor, from extra to main has to be period precise and this was delivered scene after scene.
Director David Mackenzie movies are always about heart and strength of character whether the story is relating to bank robbers, prisoners or in this case a king who has does the right thing. His overall take on a fairly common story is original and mixes graphic detail and period accuracy with a drop of artistic licence.
Outlaw King is a Netflix film that has all the components that was promised when the streaming service first ventured into original content. It has "A" list actors, up and coming directors with a healthy budget attached. All this means very little if the film isn't very good. I am pleased to report that David Mackenzie's Outlaw King is a powerful, well acted story that is 2 hrs of sheer entertainment.
More please, Netflix.
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