BRAVEHEART (1995) Review – Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau d: Mel Gibson
Synopsis: In the late 13th century, the twenty-something Scottish knight William Wallace ( Mel Gibson ), aka Braveheart, leads a group of Scottish rebels against the occupying English forces. Wallace's goal is to attain freedom for his fellow Scots, while also avenging the deaths of his father, brother, and wife. In-between battles and prior to his brutal demise at the hands of the English, Wallace has an affair with the French princess, Isabella ( Sophie Marceau ), wife of the effete Prince of Wales ( Peter Hanly ) and daughter-in-law of England's King Edward I ( Patrick McGoohan ). The Pros: Production values that an estimated $50-70+ million could buy in the mid-1990s. It ends. The Cons: After watching Ridley Scott 's Gladiator , I thought no other Best Picture Oscar winner could possibly be more mind-numbingly bad. I was wrong.