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Braveheart
1995 178 min United States of America R 18+
★8.5
Action, Drama, History, War
Director: Mel Gibson
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against English rule.
Budget:
$72M
US Gross:
$75.61M
Worldwide:
$213.22M
Starring
Mel Gibson
Actor
Sophie Marceau
Actor
Patrick McGoohan
Actor
Awards
Won 5 Oscars. 34 wins & 34 nominations total
Key opinion
Braveheart is widely regarded as a rousing and emotionally resonant historical epic that effectively uses its grand scale, powerful score, and committed performances to inspire audiences. While the film is frequently praised for its technical achievements and ability to stir nationalist sentiment, it remains polarizing due to its significant historical inaccuracies and departure from factual events.
| Cinematography | John Toll's cinematography expertly utilizes lush, sweeping Scottish landscapes to establish an immersive and epic visual atmosphere. | |
| Score | James Horner’s martial score consistently elevates the film's emotional intensity and reinforces its heroic tone. | |
| Acting | Mel Gibson delivers a charismatic and powerful lead performance that anchors the narrative and drives the film's emotional core. | |
| Production | The production design and staging of battle sequences are praised for their visceral, large-scale impact and reliance on practical sets rather than CGI. | |
| Adaptation | Historical accuracy is a major point of contention; many viewers value the film's dramatic resonance, while others feel the liberties taken with timelines, costumes, and characterizations undermine the story. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's structure and pacing are split; some find the three-hour runtime to be an engaging, epic experience, while others perceive it as tedious and uneven. |