High-octane action fuels delicious remake
Photo: Studiocanal
A NEW Robin Hood? Do we really need one? Well, when it’s done with as much verve and humour as this latest version, why not?
After romancing local girl Marian (Eve Hewson), Lord Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton, pictured) finds himself conscripted into the Third Crusade by the scheming Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn).
While fighting in Arabia, Robin tries but fails to save the life of the son of a Saracen warrior, John (Jamie Foxx).
On his return to Nottingham four years later, he finds he’s been declared dead, his property repossessed by the Sheriff, and Marian is involved with his halfbrother Will Scarlet (Jamie Dornan).
But John has followed him to England and, while training Robin in the ways of Saracen fighting, inspires him to lead an underground revolution, taking money from the rich and either using it to ingratiate himself with the Sheriff and church or distributing it to the poor.
This delicious take on a much-told story has its tongue firmly in its cheek, while still delving into issues that are relevant to our time – well, any time really.
But what’s really fabulous about the film are the high-octane action sequences.
There’s a wagon chase that seems inspired by Ben Hur’s chariot race, fight scenes that are dynamic and well shot, and a party scene worthy of Baz Luhrmann.
It’s the work of British director Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders), with an original screenplay by first-time feature writers Ben Chandler and David James Kelly.
Bathurst worked mainly in TV previously and his bigscreen debut is impressive.
Mendelsohn relishes his role as the vile, emotionally twisted Sheriff, Egerton makes a fine action hero, while Foxx gives a solid performance as the courageous Little John.
The design is outstanding, the cinematography impressive.
This is no romp in the forest; it’s a revisionist take on the tale of Robin Hood and it’s actually very enjoyable.