Braveheart [Sapphire Edition] [2 Discs] [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Mel Gibson, long-time heartthrob of the silver screen, came into his own as a director with Braveheart, an account of the life and times of medieval Scottish patriot William Wallace and, to a lesser degree, Robert the Bruce's struggle to unify his nation against its English oppressors. The story begins with young Wallace, whose father and brother have been killed fighting the English, being taken into the custody of his uncle, a nationalist and pre-Renaissance renaissance man. He returns twenty years later, a man educated both in the classics and in the art of war. There he finds his childhood sweetheart Murron (Catherine McCormack), and the two quickly fall in love. There are murmurs of revolt against the English throughout the village, but Wallace remains aloof, wishing simply to tend to his crops and live in peace. However, when his love is killed by English soldiers the day after their secret marriage (held secretly so as to prevent the local English lord from exercising the repulsive right of prima noctae, the privilege of sleeping with the bride on the first night of the marriage), he springs into action and single-handedly slays an entire platoon of foot soldiers. The other villagers join him in destroying the English garrison, and thus begins the revolt against the English in what will eventually become full-fledged war. Wallace eventually leads his fellow Scots in a series of bloody battles that prove a serious threat to English domination and, along the way, has a hushed affair with the Princess of Wales (the breathtaking Sophie Marceau) before his imminent demise. For his efforts, Gibson won the honor of Best Director from the Academy; the movie also took home statuettes for Best Picture, Cinematography, Makeup, and Sound Effects. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 2
• Screen: Color
• Audio: Dolby TrueHD
• Features:
  • Commentary by actor/director Mel Gibson
  • Braveheart Timelines
  • Dimensional Battlefields of the Scottish Rebellion
  • Braveheart: A look back
  • A company equals HD
  • The sound of laughter HD
  • The measure of a film HD
  • Smithfield: Medieval Killing Fields HD
  • Tales of William Wallace
  • A Writer's Journey

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Cinematography - 1995 (John Toll)
•     Won Best Director - 1995 (Mel Gibson)
•     Won Best Makeup - 1995 (Paul Pattison, Peter Frampton, Lois Burwell)
•     Won Best Picture - 1995 (Bruce Davey, Alan Ladd, Jr., Mel Gibson)
•     Won Best Sound Effects - 1995 (Lon Bender, Per Hallberg)
•     Nominated Best Costume Design - 1995 (Charles Knode)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 1995 (Steven Rosenblum)
•     Nominated Best Original Dramatic Score - 1995 (James Horner)
•     Nominated Best Original Screenplay - 1995 (Randall Wallace)
•     Nominated Best Sound - 1995 (Brian Simmons, Andy Nelson, Scott Millan, Anna Behlmer)

• American Society of Cinematographers

•     Won Best Cinematography - 1995 (John Toll)

• Broadcast Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Director - 1995 (Mel Gibson)

• Directors Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Director - 1995 (Mel Gibson)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Won Best Director - 1995 (Mel Gibson)
•     Nominated Best Original Score - 1995 (James Horner)
•     Nominated Best Picture - Drama - 1995
•     Nominated Best Screenplay - 1995 (Randall Wallace)

• National Board of Review

•     Nominated Best Picture - 1995

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Mel Gibson - William Wallace
       Sophie Marceau - Princess Isabelle
       Patrick McGoohan - Edward I Longshanks
       Catherine McCormack - Murron
       Brendan Gleeson - Hamish
       Ian Bannen - Robert the Bruce's leprous father
       Alan Tall - Elder Stewart

• Director:

  Mel Gibson

• Producer:

  Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Alan Ladd, Jr.

• Screenwriter:

  Randall Wallace

• Cinematographer:

  John Toll

• Composer (Music Score):

  James Horner

• Editor:

  Steven Rosenblum

• Production Designer:

  Thomas Sanders

• Art Director:

  John Lucas, Nathan Crowley, Daniel Dorrance, Ned McLoughlin

• Associate Producer:

  Elizabeth Robinson

• Executive Producer:

  Stephen McEveety

• Set Designer:

  Peter Howitt

• Costume Designer:

  Charles Knode

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Brian Simmons

• First Assistant Director:

  David Tomblin, Mic Rodgers, Matt Earl Beesley

• Stunts:

  Mic Rodgers, Simon Crane

• Casting:

  Patsy Pollock

• Unit Production Manager:

  Ken Court

• Re-Recording Mixer:

  Scott Millan

• Hair Styles:

  Paul Pattison

REVIEW:

• Thoroughly ahistorical, Braveheart is nonetheless a rousing tale of heroism and honor, full of passion and wit and courage enough to inspire an army to victory. In fact, it very nearly did just that, becoming a focal point within the U.S. military for discussions of the societal obligations of the modern citizen-soldier. Filmed almost entirely in Ireland, Braveheart convincingly re-creates its version of Scotland circa 1300. A major strength is the marvelously designed battle sequences, the work of actor/director Mel Gibson and cinematographer John Toll. While only a modest success at the box-office, Braveheart was a substantial hit in video, and is remembered as the R-rated film that parents most often brought home to share with their children. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi