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Scottish movies, you gotta love 'em!
Especially the kilts swirling, swords swinging, blood 'n' guts ones,
what more could you want?
Here's a few movies to view for the above, along with a few other
decent Scottish movies that you may enjoy.
 Braveheart
(1995)
A passionate and bloody account of William Wallace’s rebellion
against the English with Mel Gibson as a Mad Mac set to right wrongs
and bring freedom to the oppressed. Patrick McGoohan makes a
wonderful villain out of Edward 1st with Sophie Marceau and
Catherine McCormack as the women in Wallace’s heart. Epic battle
scenes of the highest order
Rob Roy (1996)
A stirring historical drama from a sharp script by Alan Sharp, and
robustly directed by Michael Caton-Jones in which Liam Neeson’s
kilted warrior finds himself locked in enmity with John Hurt’s
Montrose. Best of all is Tim Roth’s foppish yet dastardly Cunningham
and Jessica Lange’s sensuous Mary in a film that has the sweeping
feel of a Western and was unjustly dwarfed by Braveheart.
The Wicker
Man (1973)
Christopher Lee claims he gives his best performance in a film whose
cult status soars with every showing. Lee heads a pagan cult on a
Scottish island community, leading to a heady examination of
Christianity and devil worship. Chilling, bizarre... and erotic.
 Highlander
(1986)
Highlander is a fun, well-written and well-acted movie, that gave
audiences an interesting mix of the present-day, with flashbacks of
the old highlands of Scotland, and the harsh life that was endured
in that time. Highlander though not too well received by critics, it
managed to find a cult following that has grown immensely over the
years.
Trainspotting (1995)
Irvine Welsh’s interior monologue is transformed into an
exhilarating exposé of aimless lives fuelled, and made bearable, by
drugs. Launched a raft of the Mac pack: Ewan McGregor, Robert
Carlyle, Ewen Bremner et al.
Gregory's Girl (1981)
Quite simply, one of the best
Scottish movies ever made, in fact one of the best movies, period. I
watch it about three times a year and never tire of it. A film that
is up there with the classic Ealing comedies and has every right to
be classed alongside the best. John Gordon Sinclair exudes a gawky,
gangling charm as the lovesick Gregory and the rest of the cast are
perfect. Jake D'Arcy is wonderful as Phil Menzies, the ambitious
sports master, the brilliant Chick Murray is the pompous head
teacher,
Dee Hepburn is Dorothy, the confident, dedicated new member of the
soccer team, Gregory is besotted with her. Clare Grogan of Altered
Images is Susan, who along with Carol and Margo conspires to make it
an evening that Gregory will never forget. Who's going to be
Gregory's Girl? Is it any of them, or is it his kid sister Madeline,
10-going-on-20 years old and his mentor. Special mention goes to Rob
Buchanan and Graham Thompson as Gregory's mates Andy and Charlie,
who feel that life is passing them by and resolve to get
girlfriends. Charlie only has one line, right at the end of the
film, but it remains my fave line. If you haven't seen Gregory's
Girl, quite simply, you are inadequate!
Whiskey Galore (1949)
Delightful post-war British comedy
illustrating for the umpteenth time the fighting spirit of the
"ordinary Joe" (or in this case Jock) when set against the pomposity
of the would-be ruling classes. Capt Waggett (Basil Radford) is the
real star here as the middle class representative of stiff upper
lippery. Surely Jimmy Perry and David Croft must have drawn on him
when they were dreaming up the Capt Mainwaring character for the
long-running BBC TV sit-com "Dad's Army". Even one of Waggett's
lines ("I was waiting to see when you'd spot that", a comment
usually made when Mainwaring had just uttered some piece of
logistical nonsense) made an appearance. Un-missable example of
British comedy rooted in the style that made Ealing so successful.
Send your thoughts and reviews on
these movies, or on any others you think are worth including.
Also any thoughts and ideas on expanding this site, comments most
welcome.
macbart@thetartanfern.co.nz
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