Review: Outlaw King

Scotland, 1304. The country has been embattled since its king died with no direct heir. The Scottish lords appointed King Edward I of England (Stephen Dillane) to help choose a successor, but Edward instead seized power, leading to a rebellion spearheaded by William Wallace, who then went into hiding after his defeat. Years of war and suffering have led to the erosion of hope and the weight of that weariness is palpable. One can understand why the Scottish lords would now pledge their fealty to the English sovereign.

Outlaw King, a quasi-sequel to Braveheart, which depicted Wallace's fight for freedom and independence, begins at the official ceremony of the Scottish lords' surrender. Yet it is clear that not all the lords are happy with this turn of events, especially since their forfeited dignity continues to take blows in the form of paying exorbitant taxes to their English overlords and handing over their men for Edward's army. Yet they are reluctant to break the peace, brittle as it is.

Robert the Bruce (Chris Pine), a widower with a young daughter decreed to marry the King's goddaughter Elizabeth de Burgh (Florence Pugh), seeing how unpopular the English are, believes the time may be right for a revolt. There's disagreement though not only between himself and his brothers but also with the other lords. Yet the uprising shall come and Robert is destined to be its leader.

Whilst it may not rival Braveheart for its contagious passion and sheer power to rouse, Outlaw King arguably matches Braveheart in its cinematic scope. Outlaw King is, if nothing else, spectacularly staged and executed. One can feel the meticulous research behind the film's period costumes and sets and the battle scenes, particularly the climactic showdown at Loudun Hill, are brutal, bloody and something to behold. Those expecting the fire and fury of Mel Gibson's William Wallace may be let down by Pine's Robert the Bruce for the latter is more earnest and contained to the point that those same viewers may wish that Pugh's Elizabeth had taken up arms, so electrifying is Pugh in a role that severely underutilises her and yet with which she imbues so much spirit and intelligence.

Also of note are Billy Howle as the Prince of Wales, whose insecurities manifest themselves in pettiness and anger, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, absolutely feral as James Douglas, whose name and lands have been denied him by King Edward. Director David Mackenzie, reuniting with his Hell or High Water star Pine, crafts an immersive and eminently watchable film, completely at ease with the power plays, strategising, and skirmishes, though perhaps at the slight expense of in-depth characterisation and narrative urgency.

Outlaw King

Directed by: David Mackenzie

Written by: David Mackenzie, Bathsheba Doran, James MacInnes, Mark Bomback, David Harrower

Starring: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Stephen Dillane, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Lorne MacFadyen, Alastair Mackenzie, James Cosmo, Callan Mulvey, Sam Spruell