The Patriot

I haven't seen a more black and white portrayal of the struggle for independence, but I have to admit that if the Americans (Germans) are making the British look like pigs, at least they are led by the biggest of them all, Jason Isaacs. He makes you keep your fingers crossed for Mel to chop up as many Redcoats as he can with his tomahawk. If, on top of that, he also has Ledger, Karyo, Cooper and Wilkinson, the result can’t be mediocre. (09/02/2015)

The beginning is engaging, the portrayal of the characters is good, the production quality is high, and Mel Gibson's facial expressions are traditionally precise. Jason Isaacs plays the villain with skill, and the initial clearance of twenty redcoats is unforgettable. But those are the only highlights of the film and then it only goes downhill. The fight scenes are not as dynamic and the mass scenes do not work well for Roland Emmerich. The cinematography is confusing and unclear, and the raw war atmosphere is clearly lacking. It's hard to fault Patriot for its pathos, but Gibson alone with his array of alternating angry, furious, and sad looks cannot win the war. (16/11/2003)

Emmerich's craft Is not only in the dynamite, but at times also in the details, which is on full display here. The production design is pretty sexy, Williams caresses the soul, and the acting duo of Gibson - Isaacs does exactly what each does best. But as expected, it's a patriotic farce, with the German filmmaker yelling "long live the spirit of the American Declaration" in every scene, and the difference between the good guys and the bad guys is as clear as between Mordor and a Hobbiton. It's watchable, but the birth of a legendary hero couldn't be more clichéd. Not to mention that it’s longer than a wait at the dentist. (19/01/2018)

Nowadays it's a classic and Mel is in great form in it. They really shouldn't have touched this guy's family. His crazy expression is inimitable and the scene with him and his youngest daughter, when they both fall into each other's arms, can bring tears to your eyes. But I am most entertained by the people who are the ones who scold it because it has too much American patriotism.__P.S. A great Jason Isaacs (and the villains in general) and the traditionally perfect John Williams. (12/08/2009)

The Patriot is to Braveheart what Troy is to Gladiator, i.e. not as good. It is a well-crafted Hollywood movie, but not made so much “from the heart” and with the risk (that comes with such a huge budget) of not being accepted by the masses. The Patriot had to be accepted by the masses because it contains absolutely every cliché of war, heroic and romantic epics that you can think of from the history of cinema. And it blends them together in a rich screenplay and with a high-quality cast. Except that Emmerich is an over-the-top kitsch master – many of the compositions are unrealistically rearranged and recolored (even in blue just because of Gibson’s eyes!) – and he serves up pathos to such an extent that it detracts from the film’s seriousness, which it needs as a historical fresco about actual events. That said, it works as a “Disney movie” for a rainy Sunday afternoon. (08/05/2020)