The Patriot Cast: Mel Gibson

In The Patriot
Mel Gibson gives a more than adequate portrayal of Benjamin Martin. Several reviews of The Patriot said that Gibson was just retreading ground that he had already covered in Braveheart, but he's not. Actually, Heath Ledger's Gabriel Martin has more in common with William Wallace than Benjamin Martin does. Gabriel Martin, not Benjamin Martin, is THE Patriot and apparently some critics never realized this.

While Gibson's William Wallace never had a family of his own, the driving force for Benjamin Martin is the preservation of his family. He is willing to compromise his own principles in hopes of protecting his family. The fact that Martin has a family gives Gibson a chance to run through a number of emotions: protectiveness (of his children), helplessness, rage, joy, confidence, doubt, sorrow, resignation, love and satisfaction. He played it mostly with restraint and without melodrama (which the movie still had its share of elsewhere). Of course, he does get into action mode as well.

The Patriot is about family. Most of the powerful scenes in this movie are where there is no dialogue and the emotions are just coming through Gibson's face and body language, such as the scene where Benjamin Martin's daughter Susan first refused to say goodbye and then finally speaks to him. What is notable is that many of the stories from behind the scenes tell of how relaxed and laid back Gibson tried to be on-set. He kept the children and extras loose, even before his emotionally demanding scenes. He even arranged for the nearby Carolina Panther cheerleaders to come to the set and help wish Director Roland Emmerich a happy birthday.

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