“This film will challenge what we believe about the myth of Robin Hood …”
Con Nats
3.5 arrows
Like many I was entranced by the stories of Robin Hood in my youth. The thought of a poor man robbing the rich to help the poor helped by his band of merry men formed my world view the same way Ned Kelly did. Errol Flynn and Kevin Costner starred as the heroic romantic hero as did many others.
But in today’s times these myths are being challenged and some realities laid bare. And boy, Michael Sarnoski’s (Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One) script definitely takes a brutal view of the myth. In the very first minutes he destroys any romance about Hood when Hugh Jackman drives a shiv through the skull of a young girl.
The opening scenes are so graphic in their violence I was wondering if this was a horror film. It was very uncomfortable viewing. It does destroy any notion Hood was anything more than a murderous bandit. How necessary it was is debatable.
Once Robin is taken to a remote island where people were sent to heal does the brutality stop and the reflections for Hood begin. And when Little John’s (Bill Skarsgaard) daughter appears he has something to live for.
The film then transforms into a drama. The music is traditional and adds to the mood. The photography by Pat Scots and lighting are brilliant and add to the mood. This is a very well shot film.
This sets the stage for some fine acting by Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer. Jackman is hard to recognise as Hood and this is probably his best acting to date. It’s hard to empathise with him but he has dimension. Comer as the caring nurse does well with her character. Bill Skarsgaard and Murray Bartlett as the Leper also give quality support.
This film will challenge what we believe about the myth of Robin Hood and the acting chops of High Jackman. The island scenes do revert to the mythology of his demise, although the use of a young girl as the heart is a tad sentimental twist away from it; strange in light of the early scenes, but a relief. The ending hits its target.
If you can survive the opening gambits of gore this is a very poignant film about reflection and redemption. It’s a pity Sarnoski felt he needed to belt us into submission first.
3.5 Arrows
Con Nats, On The Screen
