Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Starring: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Alan Rickman, Christian Slater, Geraldine McEwan, Michael McShane, Brian Blessed, Sean Connery (uncredited)
Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
1991

Times Seen:
Tim: 4

Summary: Robin (Kevin Costner) returns home from the Crusades and finds himself pitted against the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) who has plans to rule England.

Review:

Tim: It's hard for me to describe how much I love this movie. In my mind, it's the definitive version of Robin Hood. It's epic, it's funny, it's exciting. I loved the movie when I was younger and it still holds up even decades later. It was a pretty huge success in 1991, coming in as the second highest grossing film of the year. It might have its detractors, but it's a movie I really love.

You have to start by focusing on the cast. I've always liked Kevin Costner and I think he makes an incredible Robin Hood. He's strong and clever, but also gentle and caring. He shows enough vulnerability so you always believe he's the underdog, but he is scrappy enough that you believe he will emerge victorious in a fight. I really think it's a great performance and a big reason why this movie works so well. It feels like his performance is effortless. Whenever I think about the character of Robin Hood, Costner comes to mind. As good as Costner is, it's subtle enough that the incredible supporting cast has ample room to breathe and make their own mark on the film.

No actor makes a bigger impact that Alan Rickman. His performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham is one of the all-time great scene stealing performances. He absolutely chews the scenery, but his performance always strikes the right balance. It's big, over-the-top, but it's always enjoyable. His Sheriff is a bit of a buffoon, but he doesn't know it. He has a really dark streak and this sense of immorality makes him dangerous. Rickman plays it perfectly- he takes himself so seriously in the role that it allows us to laugh and marvel at this unforgettable character. Rickman is easily the standout of the film. Morgan Freeman is so good, too. He and Costner have a quiet chemistry together. Freeman might not have a gigantic role, but it feels even bigger than the screen time allotted to him. It's a great, great performance. I really enjoyed Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as well. She feels like the definitive Marian to me. She interacted with Costner and Rickman so well- I love how her performance shifted based on which of these characters she was interacting with. Christian Slater is a great addition, too. His role is small, but he's memorable. I also have to mention the (Spoiler, although it's been almost 30 years, so....) uncredited, surprising role of Sean Connery at the end. It's a small scene, but it's a great one. I remember being so shocked when I first watched this movie and he unexpectedly shows up. As a whole, the cast in this film is outstanding.

The film itself is quite long, but it doesn't drag. There's so many interesting characters and so much happening that the nearly 2.5 hour film doesn't feel all that long. There's a ton of great scenes- I love the scene where Robin is introduced to Little John and the other outlaws on the river. The scenes of the clever ways they rob the sheriff's men are great fun to watch. Nearly every scene with the Sheriff is unforgettable ("Why a spoon, cousin?"). The scene of Robin shooting the arrow toward the camera is the most iconic of the film. The whole movie is just a great period adventure story. It has a good bit of humor and quotable lines. The action is quite enjoyable. The whole movie is just fun. It's a serious story, but it never becomes overly dramatic. Director Kevin Reynolds keeps it lighthearted.

The music in this film is incredible. Most noteworthy is the amazing song, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams. It's such a fantastic song and it always makes me think about this movie. It was huge when released and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (sadly, this film's only nomination).

I can't say enough about how great this movie is. I could watch it a dozen times and still look forward to the next viewing. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is likely my favorite Robin Hood movie of all time.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



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