Braveheart

This has only incited more calls for the statue to be removed as it now appears that the Gibson/Wallace figure is imprisoned; an irony, considering that the statue bears the word "Freedom" on the plinth. On release, the film was compared with the 1941 novel No Bed for Bacon, which also features Shakespeare writing his plays. After repairs were made, the statue was encased in a cage at night to prevent further vandalism. At the conclusion of the play, the Queen applauds the abilities of both writer and "actor," but orders that Viola rejoin her husband, who is about to move to America. In 1998 the statue was vandalised by someone who smashed the face in with a hammer. By the time Will realizes that Viola and Thomas are the same person, she is promised in marriage to a lord approved of by Queen Elizabeth herself (portrayed by Judi Dench). But the couple find themselves unable to avoid a clandestine affair and even risk the wrath of the law against women being on stage by having Viola play "Juliet" in Shakespeare's play, by now renamed Romeo and Juliet. The statue, which includes the word "Braveheart" on Wallace's shield, was the cause of much controversy and one local resident stated that it was wrong to "desecrate the main memorial to Wallace with a lump of crap". Shakespeare meets Viola de Lesseps (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), who lives in the same house as Kent, and promptly falls in love with her, which inspires him to begin writing his play again.

In 1997 a statue of Gibson as "William Wallace" was placed in the car-park of the Wallace Monument near Stirling, Scotland. At a fake audition of a play that he has not yet written a word of, "Romeo and Ethel, the Sea Pirate's Daughter", he admires the talent of a new actor, Thomas Kent, who promptly runs away. For a historical treatment of events see the William Wallace entry. This is however consistent with the style of Shakespeare's plays, which often featured anachronisms. Some noted critiques include:. It should be noted that the movie is entirely fictional, and indeed often inconsistent with the historical record (for instance, the colonization of North America by the English did not begin until 1584 and Romeo and Juliet was largely written by 1596 or 1597). Modifications to the sequence of events create dramatic juxtapositions, allowing different lines in the story to appear to occur simultaneously. Most of the film's major plot devices are also taken from Shakespeare.

The anachronistic kilts and blue makeup worn by the Scots make the rebels more visually distinctive, the incomplete armor and missing helmets allow viewers to recognize the actors, and changes to characters and names make the story easier to follow. In this dramatic comedy/romance, William Shakespeare is portrayed as a young, struggling playwright, plagued by money shortages, problems with women, and writer's block. Some of the characters and their lines are references to lines and characters in real Shakespeare plays -- implying that these inspire the film's Shakespeare later in life. Some of the "inaccuracies" in Braveheart may be motivated by artistic reasons. Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 motion picture. However, due to the intense level of detail in costuming, makeup and special effects, audiences may incorrectly assume that the production is intended to be historically accurate. BAFTA Award for Best Production Design - Martin Childs. Braveheart is a work of fiction which draws inspiration from real historical events. BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design - Sandy Powell.

. BAFTA Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music - Stephen Warbeck. Nominated:. BAFTA Award for Best Sound - Robin O'Donoghue, Dominic Lester, Peter Glossop, John Downer. The film won numerous awards including the 1995 Academy Award for:. Academy Award for Sound - Robin O'Donoghue, Dominic Lester, Peter Glossop. Mel Gibson played Wallace and also directed the film. BAFTA Award for Best Make Up/Hair - Lisa Westcott.

Braveheart is an American motion picture released in 1995 that was very loosely based on the life of William Wallace, a major Scottish hero. Academy Award for Makeup - Lisa Westcott & Veronica Brebner. This changed after the unexpected death of Alexander III in 1288 and when Edward I who was asked to resolve the dispute to the Scottish crown used it to revive English claims of overlordship. Academy Award for Film Editing - David Gamble. Ironically the 13th century was one of the few centuries when Anglo-Scottish relations were relatively peaceful. BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenply - Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard. In his speech before the battle of Stirling Bridge, Mel Gibson's Wallace alludes to a 100 years of tyranny. BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography - Richard Greatrex.

Wallace was hunted down when the Scots were forced to surrender in 1305. Academy Award for Best Cinematography - Richard Greatrex. The Scottish war effort collapsed a few years later because of the defeat of their French allies by the Flemish at Coutrai in 1304. Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture - Judi Dench. He did eventually switch sides but that was a few years later and as a result of a dispute with the Comyns (not depicted in the film) who supported the Balliol claim to the throne. BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Tom Wilkinson. Bruce did not betray Wallace at Falkirk. Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture - Geoffrey Rush.

There is no historical record of this though Bruce himself contracted a disease before his death that has sometimes been alleged to be leprosy. BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Geoffrey Rush. The movie depicts Robert the Bruce's father (who also had the same) name as a leper. Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Geoffrey Rush. The reality of William Wallace's capture and execution was far worse than shown in the film. BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role - Joseph Fiennes. Braveheart suggests Wallace supported the Bruce claim to the Scottish throne; however, Wallace supported the Balliol claim while Bruce was convinced of his father's rightful succession. BAFTA Award for Best Actress - Gwyneth Paltrow.

The then-future King Robert the Bruce is described as "Earl of Bruce", but actually, his title before becoming king was Earl of Carrick. Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture - John Madden. The argument escalated into a fight, resulting in Wallace killing the soldiers. DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures - John Madden. Wallace's long-standing hatred for the English may not have been because of his wife's death, according to one legend it was because two English soldiers challenged Wallace over some fish he had caught. BAFTA David Lean Award for Direction - John Madden. She was indeed supposedly killed by the English sheriff of Lanark in May 1297, although it appears this was a reprisal by the English since Wallace was already revolting against them. Academy Award for Directing - John Madden.

Wallace is reputed to have had a wife named Marian Braidfoot (apparently her name was changed to Murron in the film so audiences would not confuse her with Maid Marian from the Robin Hood stories). BAFTA Award for Best Editing - David Gamble. There is some controversy about the jus prima noctis (also known as the droit de seigneur), the supposed right of a Lord to deflower virgins in his territory, but it certainly did not exist in either England or Scotland during this period. Academy Award for Original Music Score - Stephen Warbeck. A sword which is claimed to have belonged to Wallace (although this is disputed) exists in Scotland, it is significantly simpler. Academy Award for Costume Design - Sandy Powell. The sword carried by Gibson is a 16th century Scottish claymore. Best Art Direction-Set Decoration - Martin Childs & Jill Quertier.

In fact, Bruce had already been fighting a guerrilla campaign against the English for 8 years. Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay - Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard. Near the end, the film implies that Bannockburn was a spontaneous battle. Golden Globe Award Best Screenplay - Comedy/Musical Film - Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard. The film implies that Wallace's rebellion took place against a background of a fairly lengthy English occupation of Scotland. Actually they had only invaded Scotland the year before (1296) and the mass hanging of Scottish nobles which Wallace witnessed as a boy never happened. Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay - Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard. They did not take kindly to such intentions, even if they did not actually switch sides. BAFTA Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Judi Dench.

Edward I intended to use them as the first wave of attack and ssentially as schiltron fodder. Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress - Judi Dench. The Celtic soldiers who did display some rebellious tendencies were the Welsh, who had been conquered about a decade earlier. Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - Gwyneth Paltrow. The Irish forces were hired mercenaries who, from all accounts, fought well for Edward I. Academy Award for Best Actress - Gwyneth Paltrow. The film shows Irish conscripts switching sides and joining Wallace's forces at the Battle of Falkirk. Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.

This implies his first wife Eleanor of Castile was his only spouse. BAFTA Award for Best Picture. Edward I's second wife, Margaret, whom he married in 1299 is absent from the film, although the span of history covered in the production includes this year. Academy Award for Best Picture. Curiously, the fight shown in the film is more like the Battle of Bannockburn 17 years later, with English cavalry charging Scottish schiltrons and being repulsed. Ben Affleck: Ned Alleyn. (It is rumoured that Gibson told a Scottish local the bridge was removed as it got in the way, and the local replied "that's what the English found" [1] (http://www.fanaticus.org/DBA/battles/stirlingbraveheart.html).) The film also makes no mention of Andrew de Moray, Wallace's companion-in-arms and a major contributor at this battle. Imelda Staunton: Nurse.

The actual conflict was more of an ambush of the English as they attempted to cross a river. Simon Callow: Tilney, Master of the Revels. The Battle of Stirling Bridge, the first skirmish in the film, was filmed without a bridge. Martin Clunes: Richard Burbage. Although most historians agree that Edward was a homosexual, many complained that the film presented demeaning stereotypes toward Edward. Colin Firth: Lord Wessex. Gibson was critiqued for his portrayal of Isabella's future husband, Edward II of England. Judi Dench: Queen Elizabeth.

(Note this idea may derive from the play The Wallace by Sydney Goodsir Smith.). Tom Wilkinson: Hugh Fennyman. Historically, the real Isabella was only a child still living in France at this time, and furthermore, was never a Princess of Wales. Geoffrey Rush: Philip Henslowe. The film implies she is pregnant at the time of Wallace's execution, possibly carrying the future Edward III of England. Gwyneth Paltrow: Viola De Lesseps. Braveheart's plot includes an affair between William Wallace and the character Princess Isabelle, based upon Isabella of France. Joseph Fiennes: William Shakespeare.

David Gant - Chief Justice/Executioner. Martin Dunne - Lord Dolecroft. Martin Dempsey - Drinker No 1. Peter Hanly - Prince Edward.

John Kavanagh - Craig. Jimmy Keogh - Drinker No 2. Angus MacFadyen - Robert the Bruce. Mal Whyte - Jailor.

Brian Cox - Argyle Wallace. David McKay - Young Soldier. James Cosmo - Campbell. Malcolm Tierney - Magistrate.

Sandy Nelson - John Wallace. Sean Lawlor - Malcolm Wallace. Jeanne Marine - Nicolette. Gerard McSorley - Cheltham.

John Murtagh - Lochlan. Robert Paterson - Priest No 2. Alan Tall - Elder Stewart. Rupert Vansittart - Lord Bottoms.

Donal Gibson - Stewart. James Robinson - Young William. Julie Austin - Mrs Morrison. Tommy Flanagan - Morrison.

Barry McGovern - King's Advisor No 2. Peter Mullan - Veteran. Martin Murphy - Lord Talmadge. Alex Norton - Bride's Father.

Niall O'Brien - English General No 2. David O'Hara - Stephen. Ralph Riach - Priest No 1. Joe Savino - Chief Assassin.

Tam White - MacGregor. Sean McGinley - MacClannough. Phil Kelly - Farmer. Bernard Horsfall - Balliol.

Liam Carney - Sean. Michael Byrne - Smythe. Alun Armstrong - Mornay. Ian Bannen - Robert the Bruce's leprous father.

Brendan Gleeson - Hamish. Catherine McCormack - Murron. Patrick McGoohan - King Edward I. Sophie Marceau - Princess Isabelle.

Mel Gibson - William Wallace. Costume Design. Film Editing. Makeup.

Best Cinematography. Direction, Mel Gibson. Best Picture.