A couple of day sago, the US celebrated its independence with hot dogs, beer and fireworks (where legal).
A little over 200 years ago, we celebrated it with guns and cannons. That wasn’t nearly as much fun, so we changed our tactics a bit over the years.
But I think most of us have heard enough about the US’s revolution. Other countries have had to fight for their freedom, too…typically from the British. These are just a few of my favorite rebel movies.
BRAVEHEART (1996)
Directed by Mel Gibson
Written by Randall Wallace
Sure, there’s another Mel Gibson movie that may have fit this list better, but Braveheart is a much better film than The Patriot, as much as I like that one. (Kind of a guilty pleasure, really.)
William Wallace is a hero that everyone can get behind. He was a small boy when he left Scotland after his father and brother were killed by the English army. When he came back, all he wanted to do was raise a farm and “God-willing, a family.” When his wife is murdered by the same army that killed his family, he begins a rebellion that eventually wins Scotland’s freedom from the English. All of the facts are completely true here, but what Mel and Randall Wallace (most-likely no relation) came up with is a rousing story of blood guts and FREEEEEEEDDOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!
It’s also pretty much the last time that Mel showed so much restraint with the violence…and this is a pretty violent movie.
BLOODY SUNDAY (2002)
Written and Directed by Paul Greengrass
Paul Greengrass’ dramatization of the Bloody Sunday massacre is one of the more harrowing cinematic experiences you’ll ever have.
Shot in documentary style with hand-held cameras and mostly amateur actors, this is as close as we’ll ever get (hopefully) to being shot by British soldiers. The action revolves around a peaceful march against the British hold on Northern Ireland. We see the politics involved and all of the meetings leading up to the march. Then the melee that led to the death of 13 men happens and it’s hard to take your eyes off of the screen. Once again, the Brits show no mercy to people trying to get out from under their thumb. In a weird turn of events, this sure-fire Oscar-bait was NOT nominated on a technicality.
It showed on Irish television on the same day that it premiered in theaters…and that’s a no-no.
V FOR VENDETTA (2005)
Directed by James McTeigue
Written by The Wachowskis
Based on the comic series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
Here’s a rare case of Brits being good guys…kinda. Their government is still not so great, but the people, at least, are good.
V (Hugo Weaving in a completely masked performance) hides behind a Guy Fawkes mask, but he’s pretty visible when it comes to his rebellion. He wants the fascist government in control of England to go down.
The people of England don’t know how bad they’ve got it, but he’s out to change all that. The reasons may have changed from Alan Moore’s original comics (one reason why he disowned this version), but the basic premise is the same: freedom is good, oppression is bad…real bad.
With a cast that includes Natalie Portman, Stephen Frye, John Hurt, Stephen Rea and (in his second appearance on this list) Tim Pigott-Smith, Weaving is in GREAT company. It’s a rebel movie of the highest order and includes some of the hardest to quote quotables of all time.
THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1966)
Directed by Billo Pontecorvo
Written by Gillo Pontecorvo/Franco Solinas
Before there was Bloody Sunday, there was The Battle Of Algiers. After the French left Vietnam with their tails between their legs, they settled back in Algiers, figuring that the Algerians would be easy-pickings for their empire. Instead, they got their butts kicked again in one of the bloodiest revolts in history. Less than 10 years later, the Algerian government would commission this film to show the fight from BOTH sides. It’s probably the most even-handed war film ever made and will make you sick at and commiserate with both sides. The French torture and the Algerians blow up soda shops. No one comes out ahead. Everyone can die. As with Bloody Sunday, director Billo Pontecorvo shoots the proceedings with hand-held cameras. Not only that, but many of the participants of the battle play themselves. See this film and know what it’s like to be in a street war.
SPARTACUS (1960)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Written by Dalton Trumbo/Calder Willingham (uncredited)
Based on the book by Howard Fast
You wanted “Classic Hollywood”? Here it is.
Stanley Kubrick’s first real shot at Hollywood and he hated every minute of it. After this, he would never work in America again. But that’s not why we’re here.
Spartacus is the story of a slave (Kirk Douglas) and the rebellion that he led against their Roman oppressors (mostly led by Laurence Olivier). The plan was to hitch a ride to freedom with a bunch of pirates, but the road was long and hard and fraught with blood and strife. (There are also oysters and snails, but that’s another story.) Many people see this as the direct predecessor of Braveheart, and I can see it. But the film had much more going on underneath the surface than Braveheart did.
Dalton Trumbo had been blacklisted by Joseph McCarthy and his thugs. Throughout the film, there are digs at McCarthy and the “watchdogs.” When Universal did not want to give Trumbo credit, Kubrick said that he would take the credit. This was the last straw for Douglas and he fought for Trumbo, who eventually got his credit and ended the blacklist.
I AM SPARTACUS!
