ROBIN HOOD spends so much time with Longstride trying to take Loxley’s place in many ways, that by the time occasion comes for him to rise, we’ve stopped caring. Both of them were stories centred around one man trying to rise to a challenge. For me much of the reason comes down to never tapping into the determination of either of those films. Since ROBIN HOOD is Ridley Scott’s film, I tried to consider where it would fit within his spectrum of films, and sadly it isn’t as good as GLADIATOR or KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (the latter was hardly a hit with audiences of critics). He’s slimy, weaselly, and cowardly…but is never needed to be one of these traits for any longer than two minutes at a time. After him, Oscar Isaac has his moments, but doesn’t have a clear enough part to dig in to. Strong is the dastardly villain in this story, and its a role he’s perfected well in the last eighteen months. Nobody in the cast is really given much to work with, but of everybody Mark Strong seems to most understand what he’s there to do. In some ways, he is playing ‘Maximus-with-a-Bow’…but he doesn’t hold the film back and is as good as he needs to be. His accent is indeed slightly muddled, but I’ll give him points for attempting one (take note Kevin). Russel Crowe does a serviceable job, even if he doesn’t have much chance to rob from the rich and give to the poor. That said, this isn’t a bad movie, it just won’t be what audiences are expecting.
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As it stands, it contradicts every legend of Nottingham ever told: From Errol Flynn to animated foxes, no movie has ever put the man in tights into this particular narrative. Had this film been billed as ROBIN HOOD: SECRET ORIGIN, reaction to it might have been a bit more favourable. Then I looked at my watch and realized the film had forty minutes left to wrap things up. At one point in the film I thought to myself “Geez, it feels like we’ve been setting up Robin’s back story for a while”. What we have here is an origin story…but you’d never know that from the bold title, nor from any of the high energy marketing.
The production of ROBIN HOOD was plagued with indecision, and that indecision has led to much dissatisfaction with the film. Astounding feats of Archery? Once in a while. Sheriff of Nottingham? Peripheral character. Longstride agrees, and somehow, an entire town accepts him as Loxley…even though they look nothing alike. Upon learning of Loxley’s death, they both convince Longstride to take his place, in order to avoid having their property taken by the crown. Robin meanwhile is off to Nottinghma where he meets Lord Loxley (Max Von Sydow) and his daughter-in-law Marion (Cate Blanchett). He likewise appoints Sir Godfrey to go about collecting what he’s due, unwittingly empowering Godfrey to hasten a French invasion. The crown is swiftly passed to Prince John, the next in line, who very quickly shows his hand at being strict where it comes to his subjects paying their due taxes. Successfully passing as knights, the men return to England, and hand over the crown of the fallen king to the queen mother. He likewise entrusts Robin his sword, asking he return it to its rightful place in his father’s hand. Amongst the guard is Robert Loxley who with his dying breath, begs Robin to take news of his demise to his father in Nottingham. Thinking quick, Robin and his men disguise themselves as the fallen knights, knowing it will ease their passage home. As they try to flee for home, they come across the king’s guard getting ambushed by traitorous knight Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong). The group is led by an archer named Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe).
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As the battle continues to rage, four infantrymen break free from the stockade and make a break for home. Richard the Lionheart is in the final throes of his crusades, when he gets killed in battle. Our story begins in the late 12th Century. I think what might have people down about ROBIN HOOD isn’t that it lets them down, so much as it comes from the fact that the story we’re told isn’t the story we thought we’d get.
At least this time around, the chatter wasn’t based on comparing a sequel to its original. At least this time, it wasn’t an entire week’s worth of bad buzz. For the second time in a week I bought a ticket for a film, with chatter of bad buzz ringing in my ear.
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