Braveheart Review: Mel Gibson's Rousing, Rough-Edged Epic
8/10 — Braveheart (1995)
Pros
- Visceral battle scenes
- Horner's rousing score
- Gorgeous landscapes
Cons
- Historically inaccurate
- Cartoonish villains
- Long and violent
Mel Gibson stars as William Wallace, the thirteenth-century Scottish warrior who rises against English rule under Edward I. It won five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.
What works
The battles are visceral and well choreographed, particularly the muddy clash at Stirling Bridge, and Gibson has real charisma. James Horner’s score is stirring, and the landscapes are gorgeous.
Where it falters
The history is wildly inaccurate, the villains are cartoonish and the film is long and brutal.
Verdict
A stirring, rowdy epic that’s best enjoyed as myth, not history.
