Plunkett & Macleane (1999)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jake Scott

Writers (WGA):

Selwyn Roberts (earlier screenplay)
Robert Wade (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 January 1999 (Denmark)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Adventure

Tagline:

Interrupted hanging

Plot:

Will Plunkett and Captain James Macleane, two men from different ends of the social spectrum in 18th-century England...

Plot Keywords:

Highwayman | 1700s | Bisexual | Robber | Revenge

Cast

Jonny Lee Miller	...	Macleane
Iain Robertson	...	Highwayman Rob
Robert Carlyle	...	Plunkett
Ken Stott	...	Chance
Tommy Flanagan	...	Eddie
Stephen Walters	...	Dennis
James Thornton	...	Catchpole
Terence Rigby	...	Harrison
Christian Camargo	...	Lord Pelham
Karel Polisenský	...	Newgate Priest
Neve McIntosh	...	Liz
Matt Lucas	...	Sir Oswald
David Walliams	...	Viscount Bilston
David Foxxe	...	Lord Ketch
Jake Gavin	...	Newgate Gent

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Arts Council of England

Trivia:

Craig Armstrong's music for the hanging/escape scene was widely popular in trailers in 1999/2000. It was heard in trailers for such films as Romeo Must Die, The Patriot, and Quills.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While there was an Earl of Rochester extant in 1748, he would have been 76 years old, and was certainly not known as a bisexual profligate. The character seems to be based upon John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester who lived during the reign of Charles II and died in 1680.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Judge Beresteade: Captain James Macleane, for drunkenness, unruly behavior, causing an affray and disturbing the King's, I hereby sentence you to be placed in the Knightsbridge debtors' jail and to be held there until you are sober. Take him away.

Movie Connections:

References Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Soundtrack:

Hell

Surprisingly good action/comedy with nice use of music

** HERE BE SPOILERS **

Recap: Macleane (Miller) witnesses a robbery by Plunkett (Carlyle) that goes wrong. Plunkett's partner get shot (and killed) but not until after he has swallowed a great ruby. Plunkett and Macleane then meet at the cemetery when both try to get hold of the ruby. Unfortunately they are caught as grave robbers and sent to jail, but not until Plunkett has swallowed the ruby. The ruby is their key to freedom, and once they're free, they form a partnership in robbery. Macleane is to pose as a gentleman and find out who is worth robbing, and then simply they rob him (and rob them in style). But Macleane falls in love with the niece/daughter (?) of their first victim, lady Rebecca Gibson (Tyler). And a Mr Chance (Stott) is out to catch them, and his methods are not very nice...

Comments: A good action flavoured by comedy and adventure. Carlyle and Miller form a good team, with a lot of friction and friendship. And then there is the relationship between Macleane and Rebecca Gibson. The scene with the ball is very good, especially the (anachronistic) use of the music. In addition to these interesting characters Cumming play the best of them all, Lord Rochester. Both the character and the acting are stellar and among the best in the movie. In total, the movie works very well, a nice balance between story and special effects, action and comedy. Very entertaining.

8/10