THE EAGLE (2011) Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Screenplay by Jeremy Brock, adapted from the novel “The Eagle Of The Ninth” by Rosemary Sutcliffe. Starring Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim and Denis O’Hare.
This movie can best be described as a British western set during the Roman era. It has an invading nation in conflict with a hostile indigenous population, a young man seeking to restore his honor with an act that includes a courageous journey into dangerous territory with a “native guide,” life as a captive of the enemy and encounters with his countrymen who have “gone native.” But for the landscape, steel helmets and swords instead of rifles, this could be another visit to John Wayne/Kevin Costner territory. Like a number of revisionist westerns, the film does offer some peripheral criticism of imperialism, but ultimately it takes the FOUR FEATHERS path and praises the honor of the conquerors while essentially demonizing most of the opposition.
In the year 140, Marcus Flavius Aquila (Channing Tatum), a Roman centurion, is assigned to lead a Roman garrison in Britain. They are constantly harassed by local Celts, who attack the garrison periodically. Marcus asked to be assigned there in hopes that he might redeem his family honor. His father had been the last to hold the eagle standard of the Ninth legion, which had disappeared in northern Britain some twenty years before, presumably massacred by locals. Marcus leads the garrison bravely during several attacks, the last of which leaves him with a leg injury severe enough to warrant his discharge, which does not make the young soldier happy.
As he recovers at the estate of his uncle (Donald Sutherland) in southern Britain, he acquires a slave, Escra (Jamie Bell) who eventually becomes a friend and confidante. Marcus also learns that the missing eagle standard has been spotted north of Hadrian’s Wall. Against the advice of nearly everyone, Marcus decides to go searching for the standard to restore the family honor. With him comes Escra, who speaks the language of that region. North of the wall they ride, and unfortunately anything else I tell you about the plot is something of a spoiler, so I’ll stop here.
The film is based on the 1954 novel “The Eagle Of The Ninth” by Rosemary Sutcliffe which, believe it or not, was meant for children. That explains the lack of a romantic subplot (though a somewhat homoerotic male bonding theme is vital to the story), yet I wonder if the film’s endless bloodletting reflects its literary source.
Male-exotic-dancer-turned-model-turned-beefcake-actor Channing Tatum is a bit wooden as Marcus. It’s not so bad that it ruins the show, but a better casting choice would have made the journey a bit more pleasant. Jamie Bell fares better as second-banana Escra, who harbors a conflict between his loyalty to Marcus and his anger against Rome for what they did to his family and nation. Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong and the others give good support.
Director Kevin McDonald, originally a documentarian, has recently branched into fiction film-making with the excellent political dramas THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2006) and STATE OF PLAY (2009). If I were to be a real dick and interpret this film strictly on political content, I’d say it’s a departure from his previous work and demonstrates a rightward bend. Well, kind of. THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND in many ways is a good argument in favor of imperialism. I’d prefer to put polly-ticks aside and just say that it demonstrates a wider range of ability on his part and I do hope to see better work from him in the future.
THE EAGLE plays as a grim, gritty, straightforward action-adventure tale. There is very little pause for relief, comic or otherwise, once the story really gets going, making the final act a bit of a hard go. In the end, or course, there is the expected act of redemption that makes the long hard journey worthwhile. While THE EAGLE is interesting and sometimes exhilarating to watch, in the end you feel kind of like the characters do – that it was a great adventure, you’re glad that you went through it, and now you just want to go home.