FILM OF THE WEEK:
Robin Hood, Channel 4, New Year’s Day, 9pm.
Russell Crowe teamed up with Ridley Scott once more (cast your minds back to the epic Gladiator) for this stylish, thrilling take on the legendary tale.
It would seem like everything Scott touches turns to gold, with hits such as Alien, BladeRunner, Prometheus, BlackRain, SomeoneToWatchOverMe, BlackHawkDown and Hannibal.
Crowe and Scott were a dream team working on this effort together, only to be bettered by throwing acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett in to the mix.
After Richard The Lionheart is slain on the battlefield by the besieged French, archer Robin Longstride and his friends Little John, Will Scarlet and Allan A’Dayle head back to England. To secure safe passage back home, Robin poses as slain knight Sir Robert Loxley and continues the ruse with the dead man’s wife, Marion, in order that she may cling on to the family estate once ruled by the now-blind, decrepit Sir Walter Loxley.
Over time, Robin falls for Marion, but any chances of an enduring romance are threatened by political forces. The outstanding cast delivers a lively jaunt through Plantagenet history with some outstanding battle scenes.
Crowe’s accent may be erratic, but if you can manage to get around that and appreciate the finer points of the film, this is one of Scott’s best offerings for years.
Needless to say, Blanchett is excellent as Maid Marian.