Sidewalks On The Corner

The legendary English outlaw returns in a epic way. Star Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott give their take on "Robin Hood."

Follow up:

ROBIN HOOD
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Eileen Atkins and Max von Sydow
Directed by: Ridley Scott
http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com/

Studio Synopsis:
Oscar® winner Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as “Robin Hood,” whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.

Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.

With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.

Robin (RUSSELL CROWE) and Marion (CATE BLANCHETT) survey Peper Harow in "Robin Hood"
Photo: David Appleby / Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios

Jeanne's Take:
Who knew there was anything new to say about the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood? Apparently there is, and director Ridley Scott recasts the popular tale with a high degree of skill in this robust prequel.

What? Prequel? Well, yes. After all, we know the story of Robin Hood the outlaw in Sherwood Forest from Douglas Fairbanks' exciting performance in the 1922 silent film classic, through about three dozen other film and television versions here and in Europe, including Kevin Costner's emotional retelling in 1991. Of course, we also have Errol Flynn as Robin Hood in 1938, generally considered to be the definitive film version. And we know what happens in Robin's old age when he returns to court Maid Marian one last time (Sean Connery 1976).

But what occurred before then -- what caused Robin to become an outlaw, to defy the king for the rest of his life? Director Ridley Scott gives us an imaginative and intriguing story of "Robin Hood" before the Sherwood Forest period, with Russell Crowe as a rugged archer serving with king Richard and Cate Blanchett as the widowed Marian.

The legend of Robin Hood may be simply that -- a legend. There is some difficulty in assigning Robin to a date in history, and his nature as an outlaw changes according to the chronicle you are reading. But some believe his historical significance does not depend on whether he actually existed. To many people down through the centuries, Robin Hood represents justifiable rebellion against unjust government -- tyrannical laws, unfair taxes, and specifically the sheriff of Nottingham and king John of England.

Of course, the screenwriters fudged history a little. England was ruled by the Plantagenet dynasty, founded by Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1154. This brilliant couple produced four sons, and forged a kingdom out of England and a good portion of what we now call southern France. While Henry II and two of his sons are dead at the beginning of "Robin Hood," the wily dowager queen Eleanor rules England during the time her son Richard the Lionheart is in the Middle East fighting holy wars (the Crusades). When king Richard is killed in battle in France, on his way home from the Crusades, his weasly little brother John becomes king. Then Eleanor, ably played by the award-winning actress Eileen Atkins, leaves center stage and we literally don't see her any more.

Big mistake, doing that. She's livelier that Cate Blanchett as Marian. Atkins as the widowed queen Eleanor is firm with king John her prodigal son, grateful to loyal nobility such as William Marshal (played by William Hurt), and clever with John's royal mistress when Eleanor needs a favor from the sultry princess.

By contrast, Cate Blanchett as the widow Marian Loxley (no longer Maid Marian) is reserved and lacking the fire we would expect her to show. After all, her husband (absent ten years) is dead in battle, her seed grain for next year's crops has been stolen by the lost boys of Nottingham, the royal family and the church have imposed too many taxes, and everything generally has gone to hell in a handbasket during the late king Richard's endless wars.

Ridley Scott brings in poignant moments to illustrate the true price of war. Honest yeomen, farm hands no more than serfs tied to the land, were forced to follow their master into war in the Holy Land (the Crusades). These men are gone ten years in an endless draft, leaving their young children to grow up wild. Unable to get food from an estate burdened with taxes, the male youngsters flee to the woods and become feral -- wild children -- illegally foraging in the king's forest. At night they raid nearby estates where they were born, stealing grain and whatever else they find, then fleeing back into the king's forest. If caught by the county sheriff, they would be killed, these lost boys of Nottingham. This is the world Robin discovers upon his return to England.

Is there lovemaking and merrymaking? Yes, but not by Robin and Marian. Three of Robin Hood's comrades in arms return with him from king Richard's wars, and they do indeed make merry with the local maids, accompanied by lively music. And there is Friar Tuck who is a beekeeper in addition to having religious duties, with uncommon knowledge of how to mix honey with mead. Honeywine is a merrymaking drink for all seasons.

And is there war? Indeed there is, and plenty of it. From the beginning you are taken into the thick of king Richard's seige of a castle held by the French king and you see the famous longbow archers devastate their enemies. Never mind that the long bow may not have become England's powerful weapon in battle until the 14th century. Ridley mounts exciting battle scenes. Early versions of napalm with flaming arrows igniting oil, setting off a conflagration. Hand to hand combat after castle walls are breached by English troops. And smaller encounters are just as bloody -- English veterans are ambushed in a French forest, and French troops slaughter civilians in Nottingham.

(L to R) CATE BLANCHETT as Marion, RUSSELL CROWE as Robin Longstride and director/producer RIDLEY SCOTT on the set of "Robin Hood"

Great photography and impressive stunts. Vivid recreation of how people lived on all levels during the 12th century. Russell Crowe is convincing as the archer Robin who fights for England and is betrayed by an ambitious king. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Marian Loxley reminds us that nobility on the smaller estates put in an honest day's work, and we are moved when she refuses to use violence against the lost boys who raid her estate at night for grain; she knew their fathers who marched away with her husband so long ago.

In today's upside down world, "Robin Hood" may be just the ticket -- a reminder of how much we need heroes. And a hero he still is. Worth a visit to your local cinema and at least two boxes of popcorn.

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Jeanne Powell is a poet and short story writer, who teaches in a summer program for teens. Her most recent books are "My Own Silence" and "Word Dancing," available online and through booksellers. She also hosts spoken word events in San Francisco, and covers cultural happenings for online media.