ROBIN HOOD

UK/US, 2010, 141 minutes, Colour.
Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt, Eileen Atkins, Oscar Isaac, Kevin Durand, Max Von Sydow, Mark Addy, Gerard Mc Sorley, Robert Pugh, Lea Seydoux, Matthew Mc Fadyen.
Directed by Ridley Scott.

An adventure, a historical drama, a re-creation of the early Middle Ages. But, only the beginning of the legend of Robin Hood as we have come to know him in the various guises of Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, Patrick Bergin and Kevin Costner (at least). Just as Batman Begins took us back to Bruce Wayne’s past and offered explanations of why he became Batman, so this could have been called Robin Hood Begins – which is what the final caption tells us.

For those expecting swash and buckle, there is plenty in the battle sequences, a siege of a castle in France, the confrontation with the French troops on the south coast of England. And there are some sword fights as well, especially between Robin and the more than dastardly villain, Godfrey.

However, this is history more than legend, and geared for more of an adult audience (after all both Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett are in their 40’s). It is an intelligent look at history as well as action – and, considering some of the themes, the social problems of the time, the divine right of kings and the Magna Carta which would be signed later, it is something of an intellectual look at history.

Director Ridley Scott knows how to bring past periods alive, whether it be the Roman Empire in Gladiator or the 12th century crusades in Kingdom of Heaven. Here he re-visits the aftermath of the Crusades as Richard the Lionheart and his very loyal soldiers fight and plunder their way back to an England that has been impoverished by the taxes for the crusades. Richard dies and his wayward younger brother, John, inherits the throne and immediately moves on the barons and their estates for more taxes. He is manipulated by his seemingly loyal friend, Godfrey, against the advice of his chancellor, William Marshall, whom he sacks only to find that Godfrey is intent on dividing England so that King Philip of France can invade.

This is the background for the story of Robin Longstride, a master archer in Richard’s troops, who takes the place of the dead Robin Loxley of Nottingham, returning the crown to London and Loxley’s sword to his father. Nottingham, a small village, has been overtaxed, and Robin stays (in the vein of The Return of Martin Guerre and Somersby) to be Loxley. His first deed to rob the rich to give to the poor is, with the aid of Friar Tuck, to steal the confiscated grain seeds and sow them for Marianne, Loxley’s widow.

As can be seen from these comments on the history, there is a lot more going on than bows and arrows and merry men in Sherwood Forest.

Russell Crowe can do earnest uprightness as well as leap on a horse and charge, sword flailing. Cate Blanchett can do vigorous work and grief but her moments of remembering that she had played Elizabeth I and taking to armour and horseback stretched credibility a little.

There is an excellent supporting cast with Mark Strong (who has shown how repellent a contemporary villain he could be in Kick Ass) is excellent as the traitor, Godfrey. Oscar Isaac (whom devout audiences may remember as a young and nice Joseph in The Nativity Story) does very well as King John. Eileen Atkins is the strong Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn’s Oscar-winning role in The Lion in Winter). William Hurt is Marshall, Danny Huston is King Richard, Mark Addy is Tuck and Matthew Mc Fadyen is the local daft villain, the sheriff of Nottingham. Max von Sydow is Walter Loxley.

Perhaps not as emotionally engaging as Gladiator but an admirable historical experience.

PS. However, for peace lovers, there is a nagging concern that the battles in all their vigoroous detail, do make war an adrenalin-pumping experience and seem mightily heroic, even for unjust wars – though it is balanced by showing the hardships that war causes at home, let alone the grim body count.

1. The film as an adventure, history of England, the pre-legend of Robin Hood?

2. The production values, 21st century, stunts and special effects, the scope?

3. The 12th and 13th centuries, the re-creation of the Mediaeval world, its look, castles and countryside, London, villages, costumes, décor, armour, buildings? The information on the glowing parchments?

4. The background of the Crusades, the rights and wrongs, Richard the Lionheart and the English away for ten years, Richard’s vanity, his charismatic leadership, loved by his followers, his return, plundering his way through France, the battles and the funds and taxes from the English? The visuals of the battle, the siege, the wall, the burning of the gate, the details? The archers? The camp, the soldiers, playing, the women, brawls and tricks, victims in the stocks? Richard wounded, the crown to be taken to England, Godfrey and the ambush? The death of Locksley?

5. Richard and his character, strong in battle, in the front, the crown, the leader, his walk through the camp, wanting an honest Englishman, encountering Robin? His death? The contrast with John, John’s lack of character, younger, his alliance with the French? His emulating his brother in battle, jealousy?

6. John, his barren wife, his mother’s concern, the dalliance with the French princess, wanting to make her his bride? Wilful, the confrontation with his mother in the bedroom? His self-defence? The receiving of the news of Richard’s death, his becoming king, crowned? His mother at his side, disapproving? The meeting with the barons, Godfrey and his plan for taxes, William Marshall and his urging caution, his being sacked? The taxes and the confrontations with the barons? John learning the truth, Godfrey’s treachery? Going to attack the barons, meeting with them, giving his word for justice? The battle at the coast, his charge, after the battle, his change, exiling Robin, his claim for divine right of kingship? The prologue to the Magna Carta?

7. Eleanor of Aquitaine, her place in history, strong wife to Henry II, strong mother to her sons, trying to control John, her grief at Richard’s death, reliance on William Marshall, going to the French princess to get her to tell the truth about Godfrey’s treachery?

8. France, Richard and his plundering, the attack on the castle, Philip and Godfrey and their plan, a divided England, the siege, the invasion? The plan to kill Richard, its failure, Locksley and his death?

9. Godfrey in himself, the alliance with Philip, the ambush, his face being wounded by Robin? At the court, his meeting the French forces, going to the cities and his ruthless getting of taxes, killing? Going to Nottingham to confront Robin? The fight with Walter, blind Walter and his attempts to defeat the murderer of his son? Going to the sea, the French landing, the fight, his fight with Marian, with Robin, his flight, Robin’s arrow piercing his neck?

10. The introduction to Marian, the orphans in the forest and their stealing the grain, Marian and Walter her father-in-law, looking after him, his blindness? The chase for the grain? The taxes and their poverty? The church and the hoarding of grain, Tancred and his taking the grain to York? Friar Tuck and his arrival? Her wanting a silent church for a miracle? A week married to her husband? Working the land? The proposals and advances of the Sheriff of Nottingham?

11. The introduction to Robin Longstride, archer, skills, at the siege, Jimmy in (*?and?) the wall, his later death and burying him? John and the brawl about the pea? His direct speech to the king, honesty, truthfulness, naivety – the massacre at Acco, where the Muslims saw the Christians as godless? In the stocks, the escape, coming across the ambush, the promise to Locksley to take the sword, the motto? The talk of father and sons? Godfrey and the arrow wound? The ship, going to London, bringing the crown back and giving it to the Queen Mother?

12. The mission to Walter, John and his keeping the ring as tax, to Nottingham, seeing Marian as a maid, Tuck and his bees, the mead, the men and their drinking, the women, the songs?

13. Marian and the news of her husband’s death, Robin giving Walter the sword? Walter blind? The truth about Robin’s ancestry, the bargain to stay, as his son, for Marian to inherit the lands, Marian to take him as husband? Marian’s reaction, the chamber, the strong stances? His working, hearing Marian’s story?

14. Tancred, leaving, taking the grain, the sacred vessels, Tuck as the new chaplain, the bees and his life, Robin blackmailing him to steal the grain? The personality of John, Alan, Will Scarlett? The plan to steal the grain seeds, the ambush, tying up the men, sowing them at night?

15. Walter, the story of Robin’s father, the revolutionary, the Magna Carta, his execution, Robin remembering, visiting his grave?

16. The barons, the taxes, their stance against John? The character of William Marshall, as chancellor, relationship with Eleanor, with John? The change, his spy sending the carrier pigeon, going to plead with the barons?

17. The meeting of the barons, the aftermath, the troops, John and his word, going into battle?

18. Nottingham, Godfrey and his assistant, the pillage, the cruelty, the fight with Walter to the death, Marian and the abduction, her killing her assailant? Robin and the troops, the rescue, the capture of the French, the inhabitants in the smoke, the help of the orphans?

19. The French, the signals, landing, the fight, Philip acknowledging defeat?

20. The 13th century, John and the divine right of kings, the later Magna Carta? Robin and the hood, the beginning of the legend? The re-creation of the period for information and audience experience?