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The Patriot (2000)
In the words of Hensing: `People don't care about the War, they care about Mel Gibson!!'
Unfortunately, those words are true. The acting was great but I didn't like the script. It was a typical, `let's try to get a patriotic movie out for the 4th of July' and another one of Hollywood's blockbuster's that spits good (Mel Gibson of course) verses evil (Jason Isaacs as the devil in carnet Colonel William Tavington) in a nearly three hour time span. At times the movie was poignant (SPOILER: the death of his son and the manner Mel Gibson goes for revenge) and the vivid luscious South Carolina scenery. The battle scenes were vivid and at times I cringed as the cannon balls rolled. When that wasn't catching my attention, I was restless and agitated as time went by. Personally, for nearly two hundred years American has been brainwashing ourselves into believing we broke away from Britain to avoid the tyranny of kings. Excuse me; if the colonists wanted to blame some body blame Parliament, if the blame should be on them at all. Yes, they were the one's levying the taxes but those taxes were paying for the cost of the French and Indian War defending the Americans under British protection. Americans, surprisingly enough did beat the British, but it was not because we used better tactics but because Britain was facing war with Europe as well as the Americans (When all of these countries helped us, why did we wait so long to help them) I often wonder what would have happened if Britain had been closer and been able to send more troops, and not had to worry about other countries interfering.
I think I could have really liked this movie if I didn't know the history behind it and wondering why can't Hollywood try and get it right for a change? Maybe my annoyance didn't come from Hollywood at all maybe it stems from the fact that historical inaccuracies in movies go unnoticed because people don't take the time to point them out. If it keeps the audience entertained, tells a good story who cares what we get wrong. Sorry, I don't think so.
Give me Last of the Mochicans over the Patriot any day.
Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000)
Can't they ever get it right?
Personally I'm tired of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, what's so shocking about a man taking a mistress whether they are white, black, purple or green. Why is Jefferson put on this golden pedestal? What's so shocking about finding out that this man ascending to heaven had flesh just like everyone else.
Personally, I came away feeling angry about the movie. Can't people to any more research than what they do? James Callender was scrupulous, yes, but he was a reporter and jailed under the Alien and Sedition Acts. He could have been reward a little from his trouble, after all Jefferson couldn't be happier when he was publishing his History of 1797 against the Federalists. If it wasn't for James Callender we probably wouldn't even be seeing this movie and the gossip that came of it would have died a gradual death. Next is Dolly Madison. Did any of those people actually look at a picture of Dolly Madison? She had black hair not red and that table scene when James Callender was asking her about her and Aaron Burr in New York. She wasn't even in New York; she was in Philadelphia burying a husband and a son from the yellow fever epidemic. There were other things I could point out as well but the average person doesn't realize the mistakes and that's what makes me so angry.
I see historical movies and how they botch things up makes me so mad and what I get angry over is the fact that people see these movies and believe what they see. They don't bother to look for themselves to find the truth.
Besides the great criticism I did enjoy Sam Neil as Jefferson I thought his manner seemed fitting, better than Nick Nolte in Jefferson in Paris. Mare Winningham was perhaps the best as Martha Jefferson constantly struggling between the duties of a mistress of the plantation, daughter to her father, and his relationship with Sally. When it was all over, it was entertaining and that is the number one motive behind this movie.
Magnificent Doll (1946)
Can't Get It Right All the Time...
I stumbled across this movie in a rather old presidential quiz book. Already knowing a great deal about Dolley Madison before I bought the movie wondering how they were going to dramatize one America's most beloved first ladies. I started the movie with mixed emotions and finished it feeling the same.
Ginger Rogers was a great actress but she doesn't pull off a convincing Dolley Madison-there's something missing. I don't know what it is, but it just isn't there. I did manage to overlook Rogers performance and applaud David Niven who was perhaps my favorite character. He pulled off the scheming Aaron Burr to perfection. From the beginning as a senator, to the tie with Jefferson in the election of 1800, to the treason trial that forced him into obscurity. It was Aaron Burr who introduced Dolley to James Madison in the first place. Reading the box I knew Burgess Meredith would play James Madison it was a shock to see him (I'm dating myself here when I say the first time I saw him was in Grumpy Old Men). I liked him second, his smallness (after all James Madison is still our shortest president at 5'6') and his quiet way made it easy to understand why Dolley Madison choice him instead of Aaron Burr.
After watching this movie I had rather hoped that Hollywood would find someone to redo this movie. I think Dolley Madison's life is just as interesting as Thomas Jefferson's. Maybe if they do choose to redo this movie they could show that she had two sons (in the movie it only mentions one son who died in the yellow fever epidemic but actually she had one older that lived). The elder son, named Payne Todd, from Dolley's first husband who died in the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1794, is the one who caused many heartaches in Dolley's later years even though she didn't admit it. He was a drunkard and a scoundrel and spent money lavishly.
To get back to the movie, overall it wasn't bad. If you like period pieces and good verses evil you'll enjoy this movie. It wasn't the best movie I've seen but wasn't the worst. The acting was good; especially David Niven and Burgess Meredith did an okay job. They played a little bit with Dolley's life but you can't expect Hollywood to get it right all the time.