A negative review of Angus McFayden's new film on Robert de Bruce. The reviews have only just started coming in, but it isn't looking good.
This is the fourth stab (as Bruce said to Comyn) at depicting Bruce's life in modern cinema, and none have really worked. Perhaps the best depiction is in the otherwise ridiculous Braveheart, in which Bruce is shown as a conflicted character while everyone else is playing goodies and baddies.
In my 'umble opinion, the problem lies in the basic lack of honesty in these films. A dishonest piece of art carries no conviction either, and you're left watching a silly pantomime. The adage 'it's a movie, not a documentary' simply won't wash. Give us the reality plus detail, and perhaps we will finally get a decent movie or mini-series out of this subject. It can be done: see the likes of The Devil's Crown, Shadow of the Tower and the more recent Wolf Hall.
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