The Patriot Cast: Tom Wilkinson

In The Patriot
Tom Wilkinson brought British dignity and arrogance to his portrayal of General Charles Cornwallis, who was a product of British nobility which had an arrogance toward all colonials. Even so, Wilkinson's protrayal of Cornwallis made him less a villain and merely loyal to the wrong side. The subtle portrayal allowed Jason Isaacs to be ruthless without being over the top in his effort to establish Colonel William Tavington as the main villain. In some ways, Wilkinson portrayed the standard British general, but he did not let the role become a charicature.

Tom Wilkinson played the pompous side of a noble-born British officer with enough restraint that his character is occasionally humorous, but never a buffoon, even when duped by Benjamin Martin. His annoyance at Tavington's inability to deal with Martin's militia is played nicely, although predictably, as well as his reluctant unofficial approval to Tavington's brutal tactics out of frustration.

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