The Patriot (1998)

User Rating:

3.8/10   

Director:

Dean Semler

Writers (WGA):

William Heine (novel)
M. Sussman (screen story)

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (Spain)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Every second counts.

Plot:

A respected doctor must race against time to find a cure for a lethal virus, unleashed by a paramilitary militia leader.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Montana | Militia | Virus | Immunologist

Cast

Steven Seagal	...	Dr. Wesley McClaren
Gailard Sartain	...	Floyd Chisolm
L.Q. Jones	...	Frank
Silas Weir Mitchell	...	Pogue
Camilla Belle	...	Holly McClaren
Dan Beene	...	Richard Bach
Damon Collazo	...	Lt. Johnson
Whitney Yellow Robe	...	Dr. Ann White Cloud
Brad Leland	...	Big Bob
Molly McClure	...	Molly
Philip Winchester	...	Young Miltiaman
Douglas Sebern	...	Judge Tomkins
Ross Loney	...	Clem
Bernard O'Connor	...	Dr. Tom Hergot
Leonard Mountain Chief	...	Grandpa

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

90 min | Argentina:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Montana, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Dr Wesley McClaren’s assistant in his clinic is played by Steven Seagal's real-life daughter, Ayako Fujitani.

Goofs:

Continuity: Wesley McClaren breaks the stem off an empty wine glass to defend himself, but in previous shots it was full.

Quotes:

Dr. Wesley McClaren: [to Holly while entering the reception room at the hospital] Get your homework done and if there are any guys in here no flirting. No dating until you are 40.

Soundtrack:

You'll Never See Me Cry

Good, but...

Being an avid Steven Seagal fan, I must say that this film, in some important aspects, is an improvement on earlier efforts. Mr. Seagal's acting in "The Patriot" shows a widening of his abilities, not everyone can act together with a child and still come out first or at least equal. Likewise, he shows his audience that he can convey broader emotions and not just squint and knit his brows. Secondly, the photography is impressive, even though there is much riding around to and fro in landscape scenes.

What ultimately brings "The Patriot" down a few notches on my scale is the narrative. The story is told in a disjointed way, making persons suddenly appear or disappear as if they were props, they are too shallow. The story moves in small fits and stops, ultimately making it seem like an "Outbreak Lite" (which incidentally uses the same premises as this film, substituting a monkey instead of right wing militia), the martial arts sequences seem tacked on and I imagine Seagal action fans will be disappointed by their scarcity. Mr. Seagal is first and foremost an action star, and to remove himself from this (albeit narrow) genre implies some fancy footwork. Here, the fight sequences seem unnatural and included just to please the fans. The symbolism involving Native Americans will mostly be lost on Norwegians at least, but the final scenes involving the military, is a gem.

Summing up, I'd say that this is not Steven Seagal's worst film , but it would have been much better with a better narrative. The acting, locations and photography are, together with the story, very good and its environmental message is much better handled than in his earlier effort, "On Deadly Ground". It would have been interesting to look at what ended up on the cutting room floor. Now all I wait for is the next hi-quality and intelligent action movie (!) from Mr.Seagal while applauding his efforts to broaden his scope. I just don't think it's going to happen with this movie, which ultimately winds up on a more shallow level than the story and actors would leave you to expect.