"Rob Roy" is an adventure and historical movie based on a real person, Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734), who became a legend as a Scottish folk hero and outlaw. The movie is a fictionalized account of his life, although many of the events are true if not accurate in detail. For a tale about this Scottish Robin Hood though, this script led me to question some of the decisions made by Rob. That may be as intended by the writers and/or director. For all the different roles and fine actors in this film, "Rob Roy" comes down to two characters who epitomize the age-old struggle of good versus evil. The acting is very good all around, especially by Tim Roth who plays Archibald Cunningham, one of the most despicable characters most viewers would ever care to see. Roth received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination as best supporting actor. He did win the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award for best supporting actor role. Like most other viewers I suspect, I enjoyed seeing justice done at the end for Cunningham. The characters of Archibald Cunningham and Rob Roy (played by Liam Neeson) are exact opposites in this movie. Archie is a wastrel; Rob a responsible worker and husband. Archie is a misogynist who abuses women for sex. Rob respects women, and treats them so. Archie is a hedonist; Rob is a responsible father, husband and livestock manager. Archie is a self-centered loner who manipulates and treats people with disdain; Rob is a caring friend who gives to those in need. Archie is a liar, thief and bully. Rob is honest, honorable and kind. Two lines from this film, one by each of the two male antagonists, describe their different characters very well. Betty, a discharged housemaid who has become pregnant by Cunningham, confronts him and asks, "What are we to do? I love you, Archie." Cunningham replies, "Love is a dung hill, Betty, and I am but a cock that climbs upon it to crow." In a scene with his wife, Mary (played by Jessica Lange), Rob says, "Honor is a gift a man gives himself. And no one can take it away."One incident in the film is quite incongruous. That's after Cunningham kills McDonald (played by Eric Stoltz) in the woods and robs him. A following scene shows him in a boat on the bay dumping a body into the brink. Cunningham is a very slight build of a man. How in the world he could carry off a much more stout man by himself – for whatever distance, is quite unexplainable. Even then, where did he find or have a boat stashed away to take out in the bay to dispose of a body? One of the best things about this film is its glorious color cinematography of Scotland. The scenery of the rugged but picturesque highland country is quite inspiring. And, the film gives us a glimpse of what life probably was like in that time and place. The other technical aspects of the film were all very good. However, this is not a film for the whole family. When I first went to see this film in the theater, the thought was in the back of my mind about a cocktail called a Rob Roy. I had drunk such a drink in the past – many years ago, and had made it for others when tending bar. A New York bartender invented the drink in 1894 at the Waldorf Hotel – but I don't know if I ever heard his name. The ingredients call for 1½ oz. of Scotch, ¼ oz. of sweet vermouth, and a dash of angostura bitters. It should be shaken with ice to chill, and then strained into a tall martini or cocktail glass and served with a maraschino cherry. I don't know what inspired the inventor to make such a drink or to name it after Rob Roy. But, since it's a drink with Scotch, it seems obvious that he had our folk hero in mind.

Heavily romanticized account of a real life 18th century outlaw, Robert "Rob Roy" MacGregor (Neeson), here portrayed as a Scottish Robin Hood. MacGregor borrows money from his landowner (Hurt), only to have it stolen by the landowner's right hand man and a most dastardly villain (Roth). To add to injury to insult, the villain rapes Ferguson's wife (Lange) and torches his farm. Soon, Rob Roy is on the run and plotting revenge. Long and talky, nevertheless this epic boasts lush photography and locations, and the sets and costumes feel authentic enough. Brian "Hannibal Lecter" Cox has a meaty role as an uneasy bad guy. Besides Robin Hood, the title character is highly reminiscent of movie antiheroes like Jesse James and Billy the Kid. At the time, Neeson may not have seemed like the best choice to portray an action hero, but he does just fine. And what an action hero he has become in recent years! Who da thunk it?

Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, but I watched this film cuddled up with my wife, I had no idea of the plot, although I had heard vaguely about Rob Roy the great Scottish hero.The film never pretends to be an epic, and there are some beautiful performances by the actors. Liam Neeson in the lead and Jessica Lange, who looked stunning despite her bedraggled attire. Also Tim Roth is a thoroughly believable nasty piece of work.I don't know how true the story line keeps to the historical context, films like Braveheart where the French Princess was actually only 4 years old when Wallace invaded England, had plenty of made up stuff in it.However as a film this is really enjoyable, one for a romantic night in, with some excellent acting.

Liam Neeson is Robert Roy MacGregor, a Scot, and a natural leader who has had some shady dealings in the past but now wants to work for legitimate improvement in his lot, for him, his family, his friends. To do this he chooses to borrow 1,000 pounds from a British nobleman, for 3 months, at 1/5th interest. He will repay 1200 pounds.With this he will buy cattle and double his money with his plan. He doesn't actually want the money per se, he wants the line of credit. However his friend is fooled, convinced Rob Roy wants the money, he is given the money and set up to be robbed and killed, his body dumped in a lake, and Rob Roy left to wonder if he stole the money and took off.Meanwhile the natural tension between the Scots and the British take over, the English nobleman wants Rob Roy's land and have him imprisoned. But Rob Roy takes off, and threatens the nobleman's man, Tim Roth as Archibald Cunningham, a man with NO honor and only cares about himself. He actually is the one who stole the money. In turn Cunningham and his men show up at Rob Roy's home and not finding him, rape his wife, Jessica Lange as Mary MacGregor, and burn his home. This sets up the rest of the story, with Rob Roy vowing to see Cunningham dead.The nobleman is John Hurt as Montrose. His other key associate is Brian Cox as Killearn. All this sets up the final duel, with swords, between Rob Roy and Cunningham, a superior swordsman. But, guess who comes out the victor?