Robin Hood

The film opens upon a spectacular battlefield. Steely men from the pages history stare each other down as they prepare to engage in vicious battle and hand-to-hand combat. One man stands apart from the throng, noticeably distinct from all the rest. General Maximus, leader of the Roman army readies himself... wait, hold on... wrong movie. Unfortunately I think Ridley Scott also got confused during the filming of his new movie. The recently released Robin Hood bares many similarities to Scott's masterpiece, Gladiator (2000). Not the least of which is the main character, portrayed by Russell Crowe in both pictures. Crowe appears to have perfected the ability to display the nobility of the common man with uncommon valor. While the character of Robin was often known to crack jokes and make witty comments at King John's expense, in this update, Robin is more of the strong silent type.

As a film, Robin Hood is simply decent. A bit long with a tendency to drag, it is populated by epic action scenes, and highly regarded character actors. What Scott and Co. attempted is to create a realistic origin story for the lovable legend. That means King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) is actually violent and egotistical, and King John (Oscar Isaac) and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen) both make appearances but are not the main villains. That distinction belongs to the French, and the English traitor Godfrey, played by the leering Mark Strong. Robin Hood returns home from the crusades right as the French are attempting to use political intrigue to split England in two. Of course impassioned speeches, ambushes, lovely maidens, and Scott's trademark ability to film a battle all ensue.

Like all Scott films, the technical side is well done. He knows how to shoot an adventure, and he knows how to shoot a period piece. The only complaint is that the pacing lags a bit in the middle. The cast side fares just as well. Crowe is always a solid lead, Cate Blanchett handles the role of Maid Marion with grit and aplomb, and Mark Strong is creating a really fun bad guy persona. Other notables include William Hurt, Max Von Sydow, Eileen Atkins combine with Danny Huston as they bring some acting cred to the table.

As adventure films go, it is well done. The film is entertaining, and well-acted. This particular film however, had a larger responsibility than that. Robin Hood is one of the most beloved legends of all time, and while Scott and Crowe provide a gritty and exciting update, they fail to revive any of the spirit and jauntiness of previous incarnations. The band of merry men, while frequently present, have little in the way of lines of character development. The bottom line is as a movie, Robin Hood is fine. As an update of an old story, it fails to live up to is predecessors.

20/30

Welcome and links

To my good friend and colleague Ben, I'm glad to have you as a co-author here on Routinely Average. Ben and I differ on some subjects and agree on some subjects, but we always come at it from different perspectives, so I really think he can bring a lot to this blog. Of course Ben actually works with cameras and knows infinitely more about the technical side of making movies than I do.

One pair of movie makers that Ben and I both enjoy tremendously are the enigmatic Coen brothers. The Coen's dry wit and detached cynicism is combined with some really terrific technical abilities to make some of the most interesting and unusual films of the last 30 years. The Coens never do a remake and never make an unoriginal movie. That is why their upcoming film seems to be completely out of character for them. Joel and Ethan are remaking the 1969 Henry Hathaway classic, "True Grit".

Now, the 1969 version is a wonderful old western starring the all-american cowboy John Wayne (in his only Oscar winning role) as an old worn out marshal named Rooster Cogburn, tracking down a killer with some eclectic companions. While I do enjoy a good western, and Wayne in certain doses, this movie seems out of place for the Coens. That being said, this might be the movie I am most excited for in 2010. I think the Coens will create one of the most unique westerns in years, and potentially revitalize the genre. To help them do this they have assembled an enormous cast including a Coen bros favorite in Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and now, according to the buzz, Berry Pepper. Who else is ready for the Dude to take a crack at one of the Western genre's most iconic roles?

And some links

1. The Barry Pepper, "True Grit" article.

2. Fresh off of winning an Oscar for "The Hurt Locker", Kathryn Bigelow appears to be assembling a monster cast for her next movie.

3. Chris Evans is officially going to be Captain America in the upcoming Marvel movie.

4. Studio Briefing compiles several reviews on "Clash of the Titans".