THE EAGLE

UK, 2011, 114 minutes. Colour.
Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim, Douglas Henshall, Denis O’ Hare.
Directed by Kevin Macdonald.

In 2000, Gladiator and its win at the Oscars gave the Roman Empire films a push with audiences. The television series, Rome, was one of the major results. There have been several films about the Roman legions in action around the empire. The Last Legion and Centurion both took audiences to Britannia, the latter focusing on the disappearance of the Ninth Legion in Scotland and the building of Hadrian’s world, beyond which was the world of the barbarians. The Eagle takes up this story again.

With the disappearance of the legion and its 5000 men, the family name of its leader fell into disrepute. Twenty years later, his son comes to Britain to bring back honour to the family name. He proves himself to be an alert commander and brave, saving his garrison from marauding Druids. However, he is injured, decorated by Rome but discharged. He takes the opportunity to go privately into the now Scottish highlands to find and bring back the eagle standard of the legion. He is accompanied by a slave whom he had persuaded a crowd at the gladiator fights to turn thumbs up for even though the slave offered no resistance to the fighter.

That is the first part of the film, a Roman legion story. The second part consists of the rugged journey and survival beyond Hadrian’s wall. The third part is the meeting with the Seal People of the northern coasts where tables are turned and the Roman becomes the slave of the man he saved.

Will Marcus find the standard? Will he bring it back? Actually, will he survive, and what role does his slave play?

That is what you will find out if you enjoy Roman empire adventures like this one.

The film has been directed by documentary maker, Kevin Macdonald (and some have complained that his meticulous documentary techniques mean that the film is not always interesting or exciting). But, while there are battles, this is more a story of a quest beyond limits and a friendship between servant and master.

The film-makers have opted for the accent policy of such films as The Last Temptation of Christ where (for American audiences) the main characters speak with American accents and the outsiders speak with British accents (as did David Bowie’s Pilate in Last Temptation). This is true even of British actors like Mark Strong who portray legionaries. The unlikely lead actor for Marcus is Channing Tatum, better known for hunk and heartthrob roles. His character is both honourable and sullen and he conveys this. Donald Sutherland appears as his uncle. The British accent is for Jamie Bell as the slave, Esca.

Based on a popular book by Rosemary Sutcliffe.

1. Roman stories? Stories of the legion? The story of the disappearance of the Ninth Legion, its fate?

2. 2nd century Britain, the forts and the sieges, the Roman mansion, beyond Hadrian’s Wall? The north, the highlands, the coast of the Seal People? The musical score? (The issue of accents, American for the Romans, British for the British?)

3. Battle and action sequences, attacks and sieges, special effects, stunt work?

4. The title, the importance of the eagle and the standard, the Roman pride, the emblem of the legion, the loss of the legion and of the standard? The story of the quest to find it, to defend it, rehabilitation and final honour and vindication?

5. The initial information about the legion, about Hadrian and the building of the wall? The Druids and the local enemies? The Seal People?

6. Marcus, his age and experience, his devotion to his father, his upbringing, military training, his being in command? The troops being wary of him? Wanting to be in Britain? His talking with his officers, their sceptical attitudes? His sending out the patrol? His hearing the noise in the dark? Waking the men? Keeping vigil? The sudden Druid attack? His being prepared? The defence? The return of the patrol, sending out the forces, his leading them, forming the testudo? Saving the members of the patrol? The chariots and their knives, the wound to his leg?

7. The recuperation, the injury to his leg, the doctor and his concern, with his uncle, reminiscing about his father? The visitor from Rome and his son, the insults to the name of the family?

8. The gladiatorial combat, Esca in the arena, the large gladiator, Esca refusing to go into any action? The thumbs-down from the crowd? Marcus and his putting his thumb up, persuading the crowds? His uncle observing? Esca becoming Marcus’s slave?

9. The decision to go north, the travel beyond the wall, the range of scenery, isolated?

10. Esca, his story, his father being a leader of the rebels, giving his word and pledge to be faithful to Marcus?

11. The difficulties along the way, camping, the rogue warriors and their defeat?

12. The discovery of members of the legion, their life stories, settling in the north?

13. The Seal People, their appearance, their lifestyle, capturing Esca and Marcus?

14. Esca and his pretending to be the master, Marcus having to be the slave – Esca even risking Marcus’s death with taunts?

15. The chief of the Seal People, the rituals? The standard?

16. The eagle, finding it, the decisions to be made, the Seal People and their rituals, the drinking, the aftermath? Marcus and Esca taking the eagle?

17. The pursuit, the Romans on horse, the death of the horse, the Seal People and their skill in running? Tracking down the fugitives? The hiding under the cliff? Esca going for help, his being granted his freedom?

18. The return of the legionaries, their devotion to Rome, to vindicate the loss of the legion? Fighting with the Seal People? Their success? The death of Guern, his story of the legion? Testimony to Marcus’s father?

19. The return to Rome, the rehabilitation of the family name, the justifying of the expedition, Marcus and his being honoured by the Romans, being given his new command? Esca and his smile at the discomfort of the Roman and his son?

20. The underlying themes about colonial occupation, taking people’s lands and then attacking them because they rebelled against the oppression? The audience and taking sides – the Romans or the Britons? Marcus and/or Esca? The final bond between the two?