The Patriot
Rent & Buy
After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring the simple life of a farmer. But when his son Gabriel enlists in the army to defend their new nation, America, against the British, Benjamin reluctantly returns to his old life to protect his son.
What critics thought
A modestly mixed reception greeted this Roland Emmerich Revolutionary War epic: critics found it entertaining enough as a summer blockbuster but faulted its reliance on melodrama, cartoonish villainy, and historical liberties. Gibson's performance was a consistent bright spot, while the film's blend of sentimentality and graphic violence struck many as uneasy.
“a gruesome hybrid, a mix of sentimentality and brutality”
Elvis Mitchell·The New York Times
“I enjoyed the strength and conviction of Gibson's performance, the sweep of the battle scenes, and the absurdity of the British caricatures. None of it has much to do with the historical reality of the Revolutionary War, but with such an enormous budget at risk, how could it?”
Roger Ebert·RogerEbert.com
Accolades
Genres
Drama, History, War, Action
Cast & Crew
Roland EmmerichDirector
Mel GibsonBenjamin Martin
Heath LedgerGabriel Martin
Joely RichardsonCharlotte Selton
Jason IsaacsCol. William Tavington
Chris CooperCol. Harry Burwell
Tchéky KaryoJean Villeneuve
René AuberjonoisReverend Oliver
Lisa BrennerAnne Howard
Tom WilkinsonGen. Cornwallis
Donal LogueDan Scott
Leon RippyJohn Billings
Adam BaldwinCapt. Wilkins
John WilliamsComposer
Robert RodatWriter
Caleb DeschanelCinematographyThe Patriot
After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring the simple life of a farmer. But when his son Gabriel enlists in the army to defend their new nation, America, against the British, Benjamin reluctantly returns to his old life to protect his son.
What critics thought
A modestly mixed reception greeted this Roland Emmerich Revolutionary War epic: critics found it entertaining enough as a summer blockbuster but faulted its reliance on melodrama, cartoonish villainy, and historical liberties. Gibson's performance was a consistent bright spot, while the film's blend of sentimentality and graphic violence struck many as uneasy.
“a gruesome hybrid, a mix of sentimentality and brutality”
Elvis Mitchell·The New York Times
“I enjoyed the strength and conviction of Gibson's performance, the sweep of the battle scenes, and the absurdity of the British caricatures. None of it has much to do with the historical reality of the Revolutionary War, but with such an enormous budget at risk, how could it?”
Roger Ebert·RogerEbert.com
Accolades
Genres
Drama, History, War, Action
Cast & Crew
Roland EmmerichDirectorMel GibsonBenjamin MartinHeath LedgerGabriel MartinJoely RichardsonCharlotte SeltonJason IsaacsCol. William TavingtonChris CooperCol. Harry BurwellTchéky KaryoJean VilleneuveRené AuberjonoisReverend OliverLisa BrennerAnne HowardTom WilkinsonGen. CornwallisDonal LogueDan ScottLeon RippyJohn BillingsAdam BaldwinCapt. WilkinsJohn WilliamsComposerRobert RodatWriterCaleb DeschanelCinematographyRent & Buy