The Patriot

Director: Roland Emmerich Roland Emmerich

Overview

Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, the director/producer team responsible for such sci-fi blockbusters as Independence Day, Stargate, and Godzilla, take a step back in time with this drama set during the American Revolution. Farmer Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) was born and raised in South Carolina, and fought bravely during the French-Indian wars. But since the death of his wife, Benjamin has renounced violence and quietly tends his crops, raising his seven children alone. In 1776, over Benjamin's objections, his oldest son Gabriel (Heath Ledger) joins the fight against the British. Gabriel returns from battle seriously wounded, with Lord General Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson) calling for his arrest. A skirmish breaks out on Benjamin's plantation, and one of his children is killed as Gabriel is captured by Col. Tavington (Jason Isaacs) and sentenced to hang. Benjamin sets aside his vow of pacifism and rescues Gabriel; with the help of his former comrade-in-arms Harry Burwell (Chris Cooper), the father and son form a regiment of Carolina patriots whose cunning and ruthlessness make them heroes among the colonists -- and wanted men by British troops. Loosely adapted from the true story of Francis Marion and filmed on location in South Carolina, The Patriot was the first feature film made with the cooperation of the Smithsonian Institute, who advised the producers on historical accuracy. Joely Richardson also stars as Charlotte, Benjamin's sister-in-law who helps him care for the children.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/03/2001
UPC:	0043396057029
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	R
Source:	Sony Pictures

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Mel Gibson	Benjamin Martin
Heath Ledger	Gabriel Martin
Joely Richardson	Charlotte Selton
Jason Isaacs	Colonel William Tavington
Chris Cooper	Colonel Harry Burwell
Tchéky Karyo	Major Jean Villeneuve
René Auberjonois	Rev. Oliver
Lisa Brenner	Anne Howard
Tom Wilkinson	Charles Cornwallis
Donal Logue	Dan Scott
Leon Rippy	John Billings
Adam Baldwin	Loyalist/Captain Wilkins
Gregory Smith	Thomas Martin
Mika Boorem	Margaret Martin
Skye McCole Bartusiak	Susan Martin
Trevor Morgan	Nathan Martin
Joey D. Vieira	Peter Howard
Jay Arlen Jones	Occam
Beatrice Bush	Abigale
Shannon Eubanks	Mrs. Simms

Technical Credits

Robert Rodat

Roland Emmerich	Director,Executive Producer
David Brenner	Editor
Michael Dahan	Associate Producer
Caleb Deschanel	Cinematographer
Dean Devlin	Producer
Ute Emmerich	Executive Producer
William Fay	Executive Producer
Mark Gordon	Producer
Elizabeth Greenberg	Casting
James M. Halty	Stunts
Gary Levinsohn	Producer
Dionne McNeff	Associate Producer
Robert Rodat	Screenwriter
Deborah L. Scott	Costumes/Costume Designer
John Williams [composer]	Score Composer
Peter Winther	Co-producer

Editorial Reviews

Reluctant hero Mel Gibson leads a ragtag militia against the might of the British army in this stirring, lavishly mounted historical epic set during the Revolutionary War. He's perfectly cast as Benjamin Martin, a colonial farmer, widowed father, and veteran of the French and Indian War who stubbornly resists joining the Continental Army. Martin eventually enters the conflict to save his eldest son, Gabriel -- played by charismatic young Heath Ledger (10 Things I Hate About You), a rebel courier captured by British troops. The loose-knit band of guerrillas he organizes bedevils the redcoat, and sets up the traditional bad guy vs. mad guy (Mel) climax. Director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) re-creates the Revolution with scrupulous fidelity, vividly capturing the carnage and confusion of pitched battles that often took place in the backyards of colonial settlers. His historically accurate rebels are gentlemen farmers, vagabonds, and brigands, united by their disdain for the arrogant English king and determined to gain their freedom at any cost. Thematically similar to Gibson's Oscar-winning film Braveheart, The Patriot provides its popular leading man with a rousing vehicle for his considerable talents. The Special Edition DVD includes deleted scenes, storyboards, audio commentary, photo galleries, cast and crew bios, a featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse

Although this war epic covers perhaps too much territory -- both historical and personal -- director Roland Emmerich keeps the pace buzzing and preserves his much-lauded skill at seamlessly blending sweeping vistas with cutting-edge, digital special effects. Traveling much the same narrative ground as he did in his Oscar-winning Braveheart (1995), Mel Gibson once again assays the role of a humble farmer drawn irrevocably against his will into a political conflict during which he proceeds to unleash a torrent of violent fury and strategic skill. Although Gibson's Ben Martin is more of a character type than a character, the actor portrays him with the same steely resolve and glint of good humor that made his William Wallace an international favorite. Co-star Jason Isaacs sinks his teeth into the part of the evil, atrocity-committing Colonel Tavington, a role that stirred up controversy in the United Kingdom for its cartoon-like villainy. The Patriot meanders down the paths of too many subplots, which detract from the film's main action, but the satisfying climax ties all the loose ends up neatly with a slam-bang finish that smacks of as much historical accuracy as Hollywood is able to muster in modern times. Although screenwriter Robert Rodat intended the film to be a portrait of legendary real-life guerrilla leader Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion, later drafts of the script excised most of the textbook figures in favor of fictionalized heroics designed to make Gibson's character more sympathetic than the controversial Marion.

All Movie Guide - Karl Williams