The Eagle **** (2011, Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland) – Classic Movie Review 9244

Director Kevin Macdonald’s exciting period action adventure drama The Eagle (2011) is sterling stuff, with Channing Tatum unexpectedly but well employed as young Roman centurion Marcus Aquila, who arrives in Roman-ruled Britain in 140 AD, accompanied by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), the son of a Brigantes chief, two decades after the disappearance of the Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland.

Marcus sets out to the highlands of Caledonia to honour his Ninth Legion commander father’s memory by finding his lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

It is a very manly movie, gritty and realistic, and Macdonald handles it lustily, with impressive fights and battles. Anthony Dod Mantle’s cinematography, Michael Carlin’s production design and Atli Örvarsson’s music are all outstanding contributions to the film’s success. Tatum and Bell are a good double act, again unexpectedly.

Jeremy Brock writes the screenplay, based on Rosemary Sutcliff’s novel.

Also in the cast are Donald Sutherland as Uncle Aquila, Denis O’Hare as Lutorius, Douglas Henshall as Cradoc, Dakin Matthews as Claudius, Mark Strong as Guern, Tahar Rahim as Seal Prince and Ned Dennehy as Seal Chief.

Kevin Macdonald is best known for The Last King of Scotland (2006), How I Live Now (2013) and State of Play (2009).

 © Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9244

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