Rob Roy
The 18th century Scottish legend of Robert Roy MacGregor comes to life in this stylish adaptation of the swashbuckling novel by Sir Walter Scott. Liam Neeson stars as the title character, a cattle drover and proud head of a Highlands clan who takes a one thousand pound loan from the royal Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt) in order to make a profit on some livestock that will keep his struggling people alive through the coming winter. One of the Marquis' henchmen, wily expert swordsman Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth) learns of the loan from the nobleman's factor, Killearn (Brian Cox), and steals the money by murdering Rob Roy's best friend MacDonald (Eric Stoltz). Unable to repay the loan and unwilling to give up his land, Rob Roy becomes a fugitive, hunted by none other than Cunningham, who rapes Rob Roy's wife Mary (Jessica Lange). Scotch-British politics come to a boil over the Rob Roy affair, leading to an officially sanctioned showdown between the stoic farmer and Cunningham. more..
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Starring: Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt,Tim Roth, Eric Stoltz
This is a splendid, rousing historical adventure, an example of what can happen when the best direction, acting, writing and technical credits are brought to bear on what might look like shopworn material.
A rousingly square romantic epic spiced with dashes of sex and bloodlust; it's "Robin Hood" meets "The Last of the Mohicans" meets "Death Wish".
Rob Roy succeeds more as an old-fashioned romance (nice to see Jessica Lange, instead of some babe du jour, as Rob's fiercely proud wife), than as an action epic.
Braveheart in a new kilt. Not exactly original, then, but worth a look.
You always know where it's going even as it meanders for two and a half hours getting there.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Academy Awards (1996)
Best Supporting Actor
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (1996)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
BAFTA Awards (1996)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Golden Globes (1996)
Best Supporting Actor
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards (1996)
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