What Do The Critics Say?

"A rough'n'ready Russell Crowe dispenses with the green tights and funny felt hat to play the benevolent English outlaw as a loyal subject pitted against Mark Strong's treacherous nobleman. Cate Blanchett is a feisty Maid Marion and Robin's band of trusty yeomen include Mark Addy's bee-keeping Friar Tuck and Canadian singer Alan Doyle as the guitar-plucking rebel Allan A-Dayle. Playing as a sort of prequel to the legendary tale, director Ridley Scott has crafted a spectacular action adventure that whizzes along like a speeding arrow. Scott's sure-handed way with a narrative means that the action never lets up, culminating in a spectacular medieval D-Day landings setpiece." Tim Evans SKY MOVIES "This Robin Hood is not a man in tights: he's not even robbing from the rich and giving to the poor just yet; but rather an expert archer in the crusading army of King Richard the Lionheart at the turn of the 13th century. With its sweeping scope and tangible grittiness, it does look great: an old-fashioned epic jazzed up with new technology." Christy Lemire AP ENTERTAINMENT "You shouldn't miss it. It lifted my spirits in these troubling times, and should do the same for yours. Ridley Scott's inventive and sumptuous retelling of the legend of Robin Hood will have you drooling for more. Two of the best movies this year have been by directors in their seventies, namely Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island and Roman Polanski's The Ghost, and here comes a third." Christopher Tookey MAIL ONLINE(UK) "Crowe stars as the socialistic archer: he’s ten years older than he was in Scott’s Gladiator and he looks it, but this is a film about a man old enough to have a breaking point. And he’s still a beefcake." Amy Nicholson INLAND EMPIRE WEEKLY "The hair stood up on the back of my neck as a herd of horses thundered along the clifftop ready for battle and I shivered as the fatal curtain of arrows falling through the sky hit their targets. Screenwriter Brian Helgeland manages to fascinate us with the historic elements, while simultaneously weaving into the fabric, a vibrant, human story that makes us relate and care for the characters. Every minute of the long running time holds; I didn't want the adventure to end." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE

"Scott's film has tremendous strengths: fine battle scenes, a strongly realised interpretation of events and a commanding lead performance. Ridley Scott's retelling of the Robin Hood legend is located in time by an illuminated manuscript introduction and then quickly plunges into the heat of battle, as Richard the Lionheart carves his route back from Jerusalem through France." Anna Richards RADIO TIMES "Crowe is fine as Robin. Blanchett is excellent as Marion, strong support from William Hurt, Eileen Atkins and von Sydow, while Oscar Isaac steals pretty much every scene he's in as Prince John and provides the only camp element in an otherwise rather straightforward and serious version of the story." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON "Helgeland’s script is a grab-bag of history and earlier films, from "The Lion in Winter" (Richard and John’s smart and scheming mom, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is here) to "The Return of Martin Guerre" (a returning soldier impersonates a dead man)." The touchstones of the Robin Hood legend are here: Little John, Will Scarlet, Alan A’Dayle, and, as Friar Tuck, the perfectly; cast Mark Addy. Godfrey, played by that villain’s villain, Strong, is the real heavy." Roger Moore ORLANDO SENTINEL "It doesn't frolic like Flynn, delight like Disney, or careen like Costner, but this rewiring of the Robin Hood fable splatters around the muck agreeably, hitting soaring points of romance, villainy, and daredevil archery." Brian Orndorf BRIAN ORNDORF "Don't expect a reworking of the Robin Hood escapades in Sherwood Forest, with Robin's happy go lucky gang picking off the rich as they make their way across the woods. This isn't that story. It's the making of man who became that legend, a natural leader with a destiny forged out of circumstances in a country torn by divided loyalties and poor leadership. It's Robin Hood 'Begins'. And what a beginning: the attention to detail is extraordinary, from the dialogue and the storyline to the myriad elements in production design, as the filmmakers create a convincing, raw, unjust and dangerous world." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE

The Inside Story on Robin Hood The daring tales of the fabled Robin Hood have been a part of English literature for decades. As put succinctly by Professor J.C. Holt ("The Northerners: A Study in the Reign of King John, and Robin Hood."): "There are a quiverful of possible Robin Hoods. Even the likeliest is just a shot in the gloaming." Yet this archetypal story has survived and been passed down through generations, morphing as each era adds to the evolving canon. "What began as an oral legend," reflects Holt, "ended up as a script." The stories of Robin are among the oldest in England’s oral histories, stretching far back into the medieval period of the 9th century with tales of "Robin the Be-header" and finding literary form with surviving 15th and 16th century ballads such as "A Gest of Robyn Hode", "Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar" and "Robin and the Monk". As far as we know, however, there’s no one actual Robin to whom we can look as the single authentic figure. From suggestions that the surname Robehod was often applied to a man after he became an outlaw, to the conjecture that "Robin Hood" was a stock pseudonym used by thieves, theories abound and the legend endures. The hero has also found a rich legacy on screen. Robin has been featured in upwards of thirty notable film and television productions, ranging from a 1913 "Ivanhoe" adaptation, through the films of Douglas Fairbanks ("Robin Hood" 1922), Errol Flynn ("The Adventures of Robin Hood" 1938), Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn ("Robin and Marian" 1976) and Kevin Costner (Robin Hood: "Prince of Thieves" 1991), as well as popular television serials such as the BBC’s Patrick Troughton series "Robin Hood" (1953), "Robin of Sherwood" (1984) and the more recent "Robin Hood" (2006). There was even a comedy send-up: Mel Brooks "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" (1993). However, Robin’s on-screen tale rarely evolves, with filmmakers invariably peddling familiar tales such as those of the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, the malicious Guy of Gisburne and the iconic damsel in distress, Maid Marion. Inevitably, Robin has been portrayed as either a dispossessed nobleman or, more likely, a gallant rogue with arms who takes from the rich and gives to the poor. It was during the filming of "American Gangster" that producer Brian Grazer approached Russell Crowe about starring in a new "Robin Hood". Grazer looked forward to reteaming with the performer, with whom he had already enjoyed two successful collaborations: "A Beautiful Mind" ( for which Crowe earned an Oscar® nom) & "Cinderella Man". For this telling, the men were interested on a unique take on the age-old legend: an origin story that explains how a common archer in King Richard’s army transformed into the legend we know as Robin Hood. Set against the backdrop of the Crusades, this action-adventure would give historical framework to the later exploits that had been covered in the many other versions. Grazer came aboard to develop and produce the project through Universal Pictures and the company he shares with Academy Award® winner Ron Howard, Imagine Entertainment. "Movies about heroes inspire me," Grazer stated. "The story of Robin Hood particularly appealed to me because it is about a man who has nothing but the right cause in his mind, and the skill and resoluteness to pursue it. With our film, we explain who the Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marion and her father-in-law are, the dynamics of the northern part of England and the barons, and how England was controlled at the time. By the end of the movie, you also know who Robin is. The end of our movie is the beginning of all the dozens or so other films that have been made." Grazer found Crowe keenly interested in reworking the legend. He admitted an interest in the outlaw that stretched back several decades. "I was very enthusiastics. "Robin Hood has always been in the back of my mind since I was a child. I was a big fan of the various incarnations I saw when I was growing up. There’s a universal connection that everyone makes to Robin Hood, which is at the core of the story: there might be somebody out there who cares enough to redress the imbalance. There’s an empowerment quality about Robin to which people respond." Crowe’s agreement, however, came with a caveat. "I said I’d do Robin Hood, but only if it were a fresh take. It is one of the longest-surviving stories in the English language. That requires due respect. I took the attitude that if you’re going to revitalize Robin Hood, it has to be done on the basis that whatever you thought you knew about the legend was an understandable mistake. It has to be different from what has come before. Take Robin and Little John, for example, who don’t get on when they first meet. When we first meet them, they have a disagreement. But that doesn’t take place on a log over a creek with a staff fight, which has been done to death. What we’ve done is to redefine the times and shift the timeline." Crowe and Grazer turned their attention to their only choice to helm the film: Ridley Scott. "It needed a director who could handle tremendous scope," Grazer notes, "someone who embraces authenticity, who is interested in the milieu, the time and the political and historical events that were occurring. Ridley is captivated by all those things. If we were going to make this film, it had to be the Gladiator version of Robin Hood. I wanted to understand how brutal that time was and have it visually expressed in the most exciting and thrilling kind of action-adventure. Only Ridley can do that." Scott and Crowe have a partnership that dates back to the wildly successful "Gladiator" (winner of five Oscars®), the film that reset audiences’ expectations of the historical epic. To date, their collaboration has also resulted in "A Good Year", "American Gangster" and "Body of Lies". When Crowe and Grazer pitched the idea to the director, he responded enthusiastically. Scott is a longtime student of history, and his last period thriller, "Kingdom of Heaven", had focused on the fall of Jerusalem twelve years before King Richard I met his untimely death. "I love period films," Scott ("Black Rain" & "Black Hawk Down") offered. "I started with "The Duellists", and then I’ve done the Roman epic and now I’ve gone back to medieval times again." To fulfill Scott, Grazer and Crowe’s vision, the men turned to screenwriter Brian Helgeland, who had been awarded an Oscar® for his previous collaboration with Crowe: "L.A. Confidential". After he received a call from Scott to craft the script, Helgeland knew that what would interest him most was the chance to "humanize the legend. Ridley wanted to tell the man before the myth version of Robin Hood. Everyone knows the myth, and obviously that is an exaggeration of the real events. This myth is rooted in the downtrodden and the idea that whenever the powers that be need to be checked, a man will rise up and look after the common people. Especially in English history, it’s been an outlaw that has filled that position. What Ridley wanted to do was imagine what the real events might have been from which the Robin Hood legend sprung." Helgeland’s first partnership with Scott would prove a powerful experience. His screenplay would cover a period that spans the years from the death of King Richard I in 1199 to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Cate Blanchett’s joining of the production owes much to the humble postage stamp. In early 2009, Crowe attended a function n Sydney with Blanchett, celebrating the fact that the actors likenesses were to be etched onto Australian postage stamps. As they sat on stage together, Crowe looked at Blanchett and realized that she should be his Marion. "Her demeanor, everything about her: I was kicking myself. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? Cate is a magnificent actress. She has resilience and a resonance. She’s tough, strong and single-minded. Every decision she makes is about truth. She has complete control over her emotional responses, so she can make the smallest gesture a gigantic statement." During the evening’s celebration, Crowe asked the crowd if they thought that he and Blanchett should make a film together. "A thousand people loudly supported the idea. Her eyes were shining, so she obviously thought it was a great idea too." "Because Russell and Ridley have such a long history together of making films that go straight to the heart of the matter, it was a very exciting combination for me," the Oscar® winnning actress ("The Aviator") says. And is it true she was drawn to the legend’s enduring appeal? "The power of the forest is at the heart of the Robin Hood myth. We’re so saturated with the power of the state, and the power of the church. As an antidote, the rule of nature is really enticing." The classically trained actress had no qualms with a new telling of the age-old story and welcomed an origin tale. "It’s constantly being reinvented. There’s no single truth to the Robin Hood myth." BAFTA TV Award & EMMY Award winner Eileen Atkins ("Cranford") was cast as Eleanor of Aquitaine (widow of Henry II; aging mother of Richard and John and, one of the fiercest women to help rule the Western world). From "Gosford Park" to "Cold Mountain", the multi-award winner has often moved audiences with her powerful performances. "She’s fought so hard to extend England halfway across France, and she doesn’t want to lose it all," Atkins ("Mrs Dalloway") says. "In considering the huge picture, which she’s thinking in terms of gaining land, she doesn’t think quite enough about how the peasants are getting on. But she has a lot of wisdom, and she’s certainly a great manipulator." Concomitant to the legend of Robin Hood is the story of his Merry Men, here a band of fellows disillusioned with life under the newly anointed King John. Fellow yeomen in Richard’s war, they accompany Robin back to England after the death of Richard allows them to escape the conflicts. Portraying the troupe are Kevin Durand as Robin’s right hand and muscle, Little John; Scott Grimes as the youngest of the gang, Will Scarlet; and acting newcomer Alan Doyle as minstrel Allan A’Dayle. "The core thing with these guys is that they are all athletes, and they all have a physical side to what they do in the film," says Crowe (SID 6.7 in "Virtuosity"). "Added to that, they are all intelligent, so they can learn new skills quickly. They also have an irrepressible sense of humor." No Robin Hood tale would be complete without the iconic Friar Tuck. Mark Addy ("The Full Monty" & "A Knight's Tale") was cast as the plump man of the cloth who prefers his mead and ladies to the dry pulpit that comes with being the local abbot. Alongside Robin, Marion and the Merry Men, the film features a clutch of fascinating characters, not the least of whom is Sir William Marshal (William Hurt) and Sir Walter Loxley (Max Von Sydow), two gentlemen who grew up as friends and colleagues of the late Thomas Longstride, the principal author of what was to become the Forest Charter (Carta de Foresta). What's It All About?

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. The untitled Robin Hood adventure 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, 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 lust for life.

The Verdict "The story of Robin Hood has been around in one form or another for many decades. So it would be fair to say that for most of us, the simplistic and often repeated tale of Robin Hood 'riding through the glenn' accompanied by his band of 'merry men', is the only knowlege we have of this colorful and fictional character. We've grown up on that constant rendering from childhood. The curious I suspect, is this as good as it gets? Surely there's more: there must be! Finally the wait is over. But only if you can put aside all thought of what has already been presented in the past. There's no swinging from trees, green tights or forrest ambushes here. Like "Batman Begins" this is brand new territoty. It's bold, rich and fascinating storytelling penned by the creative talents of the man who wrote such entertaining hits as: "L.A. Confidential", "Man on Fire", "Mystic River" and "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3." Thanks to Ridley Scott, Brian Grazer and New Zealand actor Russell Crowe, a new and exciting tale, fills in the missing gaps of his life prior to Robin's fetish for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor took hold of him. It won't suit everyone and that's to be expected. For those with an open mind, it will prove to be both rewarding and satisfying. A brand new beginning. Very recommended. 4 STARS." The Production Team

Director Screenplay Story Producers Original Music Cinematography Film Editor Casting Production Design

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Ridley Scott Brian Helgeland Brian Helgeland/Ethan Reiff/Cyrus Voris Russell Crowe/Brian Grazer/Ridley Scott Marc Streitenfeld John Mathieson Pietro Scalia Jina Jay Arthur Max

Who Is Playing Who?

Russell Crowe Cate Blanchett Max von Sydow William Hurt Mark Strong Oscar Isaac Danny Huston Eileen Atkins Mark Addy Matthew Macfadyen Kevin Durand Scott Grimes Alan Doyle Douglas Hodge Léa Seydoux Robert Pugh Gerard McSorley Velibor Topic Ciaran Flynn Simon McBurney

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Robin Longstride Marion Loxley Sir Walter Loxley William Marshal Godfrey Prince John King Richard The Lionheart Eleanor of Aquitaine Friar Tuck Sheriff of Nottingham Little John Will Scarlet Allan A'Dayle Sir Robert Loxley Isabella of Angoulême Baron Baldwin Baron Fitzrobert Belvedere Loop Father Tancred

Run Time 140 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2010 - Universal - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2010 The Movie Pages & impact Internet Services. All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian and International Copyright. Trademark Laws and Intellectual Property Rights apply.