Mini movie review: Outlaw King

***CONTAINS SPOILERS***

This weekend I watched Netflix's Outlaw King (2018), a movie based on historical events that took place in 14th century Scotland. Overall it was one of the better movies Netflix has released - the harsh Scottish scenery was gorgeous, the realities of war were intense and brutal, the struggles and schemes between the English and Scottish were intriguing and the main characters were compelling. My main...really only...complaint was the unnecessary sex and nudity. Before addressing that, I want to talk about the two main characters. 

The movie opens with Robert Bruce (Chris Pine), along with his father and many other Scottish lords, swearing fealty to King Edward I (Stephen Dillane). We learn they have been at war and the Scots are finally surrendering. King Edward then betrothed his goddaughter, Elizabeth Burgh (Florence Pugh) to Robert. This rancorous peace is quickly broken after the death of William Wallace, with events leading to Robert Bruce being crowned King of Scotland. 

Robert is portrayed as strong, caring and a good leader. He has a young daughter he clearly loves and we learn he still mourns the loss of his wife, who died in childbirth. He doesn't impose himself on his new wife, Elizabeth, who is clearly quite a bit younger than him. He appreciates her bravery and the kindness she shows his daughter, Marjorie (Josie O'Brien). For her part, Elizabeth is intelligent, capable and willing to stand up for others. She handles a situation not of her choosing with grace. 

The portrayal of their growing feelings and respect for each other is one of the best parts of the movie. There are two particularly great moments - first, after Elizabeth overhears (cough*eavesdrops*cough) the Bruce brothers decide to rebel against King Edward I, she enters Robert's bedroom and tells him that "whatever course you are charting, I choose you, my husband." She's making an active decision, accepting their marriage herself, instead of it being a situation she's stuck in. The second is right before the first big battle, shortly after Robert was crowned king. They are discussing the forthcoming challenges and Robert says "We have too much work to do to let that happen now." Elizabeth asks him, "We?" And he responds "We," and takes her hand. This is his moment of affirming their union. They then retreat to their tent and consummate their marriage. 

This is where things go south, fast (and thankfully, quickly). While the aforementioned scenes are romantic and tender, the graphic nature of the sex scene steps beyond that into invasive and voyeuristic. Instead of amorous, it feels tawdry. It's unnecessarily explicit, forcing the audience to be a part of a moment that would have been better spent in private. They should have taken an example from Poldark in creating an intimate scene without showing more than necessary. 

There's a steamy moment in Season Two when Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) is concerned about whether or not Ross (Aidan Turner) still loves her (for good reason, since he's been a massive, inconsiderate butt). He gives her a belated Christmas present, a pair of silk stockings, and kneels before her - deferential and vulnerable - and puts one on, ties it in place with a ribbon and then kisses her (swoon).  They then make their way to the bed and the scene ends without anything graphic being shown. We all know what happens, but it's very intimate and suggestive without thrusting nudity upon the viewer. 

"Poldark: Stocking Scene"

It's unfortunate that Outlaw King didn't see fit to craft their love scene in a similar manner, because it was just that, a scene between two people who clearly loved each other. They could have done something like the above, perhaps having Robert remove Elizabeth's stockings and then carry her to bed (end scene). 

There are two other brief instances of nudity - Robert (super naked, at a distance) washing off in a creek and a woman in a town that Prince Edward (Billy Howle) decimates is pulled topless from a house - that are unnecessary but don't preclude me from recommending the movie. I would hesitate to do so because of the other scene, though since you do see it coming it's not hard to skip. I will just have to remember to include a hardy disclaimer. 😐

Watching a movie that takes place in the Scottish highlands made me think of a GREAT book that I can wholeheartedly recommend - Outlaws of Ravenhurst. If you've never read it, I would definitely encourage you to do so. 

~ Katie Q. 🐧

Fun Facts:

• The first nine minutes of the film is one continuous tracking shot.
• Elizabeth de Burgh is depicted as English, in reality she was of mixed Native Irish and Anglo-Norman ancestry and was born and raised in Ulster. In 1315 (eight years after Loudon Hill) Robert would lead an, ultimately unsuccessful, invasion of Ireland aimed at freeing the country from English rule. Elizabeth's father Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster led the Anglo-Norman forces against his son-in-law.
• Edward II was actually the youngest of Edward I's four sons, all of whom died by the time of Edward I's reign came to an end.
• Robert's father and Edward I did in fact fight in the 9th (and last) crusade. During this time Edward was almost killed in an assassination attempt. The crusade was generally a success for the English and allied forces but conflicts at home forced Edward to leave the campaign, at which time the crusade spirit had mostly died off.
• Edward I had several nicknames, the two most popular being "longshanks" due to his considerable height, and "the hammer of the scots" for his unrelenting fight against the Scottish.
• This film contains a common error when addressing British monarchs in movies. The term "Your Majesty" did not exist until Henry VIII. Prior to his reign monarchs were addressed as "Your Grace", "My Lord" or "(My) Lord King". The few female monarchs were addressed as "My Lady" or "My Queen".
• The Prince of Wales is depicted in this movie. He was the first to ever hold this title. His father Edward I had conquered Wales which had a policy that no-one born outside the Principality could rule. Edward therefore, transported his heavily pregnant wife to Caernarfon Castle (which he'd built to keep the Welsh in check) so that her son, Edward was born in Wales. King Edward then promptly declared his son Prince of Wales, thereby stealing the crown of Wales and sealing the Principality's subjugation to the English Crown. The heir to the UK Crown holds the title to this day.
• Scenes for the film were shot at Dunfermline Abbey the final resting place of King Robert the Bruce.
• Marjorie, the daughter of Robert the Bruce, went on to marry Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. Their descendants later inherited the Scottish crown and founded the House of Stuart, which would in turn unify the kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1603.
• Chris Pine quit Untitled Star Trek Sequel in favor of this movie.