The Patriot

The Patriot

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8 / 10

1 Review

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Overview

After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring the simple life of a farmer. But when his son Gabriel enlists in the army to defend their new nation, America, against the British, Benjamin reluctantly returns to his old life to protect his son.

Media

The+Patriot

Cast

Joely Richardson

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writer:

Robert Rodat

Release Date:

2000-06-28

Run Time:

165m

Tagline:

Before they were soldiers, they were family. Before they were legends, they were heroes. Before there was a nation, there was a fight for freedom.

Genres:

Action Drama History War

Keywords:

18th century based on true story daughter general gore historical fiction insurgence loss of loved one mission patriotism rebel soldier sword fight

Financials and Popularity

Budget: 110,000,000.00$

Revenue: 215,294,342.00$

Vote Average: 7.2/10

Vote Count: 4373 Votes

Movie Popularity: 9.564

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 24 April 2026 at 7:01 pm

8 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARY Roland Emmerich takes a break from blowing up the White House to give us the Revolutionary War, Braveheart-style. Benjamin Martin is a pacifist plantation owner and father of seven who just wants to sit out the rebellion. That plan goes up in smoke—literally—when the sadistic Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs) shows up, executes one of Martin’s sons, and drags the eldest (Heath Ledger) off to be hanged. Martin dusts off his tomahawk, enlists his remaining kids, and turns the South Carolina swamps into a personal guerrilla warfare nightmare for the British crown. THE PROS The action is visceral and unapologetically brutal. The "forest ambush" where Martin and his young sons pick off an entire British platoon remains a technical and emotional highlight. Mel Gibson delivers a sincere, focused performance that anchors the film’s "angry dad" energy, and Jason Isaacs is the gold standard for "villain you love to hate"—he’s so deliciously evil he makes other movie villains look like they’re in a pageant. The cinematography by Caleb Deschanel and John Williams’ sweeping score make every frame look and sound like a museum piece. THE CONS It hits an 8/10 because the historical accuracy is a total head-scratcher. The film treats race relations in 1776 South Carolina with a "rose-tinted" lens that feels more like a fantasy novel than a period drama. At nearly three hours, the runtime can feel a bit languid during the romantic subplots. It misses the 9/10 mark because it occasionally drifts into "cartoonish" territory with its black-and-white morality, making the British look like they’re auditioning for a Star Wars movie. THE VERDICT An 8/10. It is a genuine, high-octane epic that reclaims the Revolutionary War for the action genre. It’s a bit of a let-down if you’re a history teacher, but as a "Go To" for revenge-fueled spectacle and swamp warfare, it’s a crown jewel. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • The Ford Refusal: Harrison Ford famously turned down the lead role because he felt the script was "too violent" and reduced the entire American Revolution to one guy’s personal revenge quest.• Seven Kids Rule: Screenwriter Robert Rodat originally gave Benjamin Martin six children, but after Mel Gibson had his seventh child in real life, they added another kid to the script to match.• Heavy Hitter Salary: Mel Gibson was paid a then-record $25 million for the role, while Jude Law was the first choice for Tavington before Jason Isaacs landed it with a killer audition tape.• The "Swamp Fox": While Benjamin Martin is a composite character, he’s primarily based on Francis Marion, a legendary guerrilla leader known for outsmarting the British in the Carolinas.• Future Stars: Before Heath Ledger was cast as Gabriel, the production considered a young Ryan Phillippe, Jake Gyllenhaal, and even Elijah Wood for the role. THE VIBE Like a muddy, blood-stained flag waving over a swamp. It smells of gunpowder, fresh pine, and the heavy, humid air of a South Carolina summer.

Videos

The+Patriot

Cast

Joely Richardson

René Auberjonois

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The Patriot

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 24 April 2026 at 8:01 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
Roland Emmerich takes a break from blowing up the White House to give us the Revolutionary War, Braveheart-style. Benjamin Martin is a pacifist plantation owner and father of seven who just wants to sit out the rebellion. That plan goes up in smoke—literally—when the sadistic Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs) shows up, executes one of Martin’s sons, and drags the eldest (Heath Ledger) off to be hanged. Martin dusts off his tomahawk, enlists his remaining kids, and turns the South Carolina swamps into a personal guerrilla warfare nightmare for the British crown.
THE PROS
The action is visceral and unapologetically brutal. The “forest ambush” where Martin and his young sons pick off an entire British platoon remains a technical and emotional highlight. Mel Gibson delivers a sincere, focused performance that anchors the film’s “angry dad” energy, and Jason Isaacs is the gold standard for “villain you love to hate”—he’s so deliciously evil he makes other movie villains look like they’re in a pageant. The cinematography by Caleb Deschanel and John Williams’ sweeping score make every frame look and sound like a museum piece.
THE CONS
It hits an 8/10 because the historical accuracy is a total head-scratcher. The film treats race relations in 1776 South Carolina with a “rose-tinted” lens that feels more like a fantasy novel than a period drama. At nearly three hours, the runtime can feel a bit languid during the romantic subplots. It misses the 9/10 mark because it occasionally drifts into “cartoonish” territory with its black-and-white morality, making the British look like they’re auditioning for a Star Wars movie.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. It is a genuine, high-octane epic that reclaims the Revolutionary War for the action genre. It’s a bit of a let-down if you’re a history teacher, but as a “Go To” for revenge-fueled spectacle and swamp warfare, it’s a crown jewel.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• The Ford Refusal: Harrison Ford famously turned down the lead role because he felt the script was “too violent” and reduced the entire American Revolution to one guy’s personal revenge quest.
• Seven Kids Rule: Screenwriter Robert Rodat originally gave Benjamin Martin six children, but after Mel Gibson had his seventh child in real life, they added another kid to the script to match.
• Heavy Hitter Salary: Mel Gibson was paid a then-record $25 million for the role, while Jude Law was the first choice for Tavington before Jason Isaacs landed it with a killer audition tape.
• The “Swamp Fox”: While Benjamin Martin is a composite character, he’s primarily based on Francis Marion, a legendary guerrilla leader known for outsmarting the British in the Carolinas.
• Future Stars: Before Heath Ledger was cast as Gabriel, the production considered a young Ryan Phillippe, Jake Gyllenhaal, and even Elijah Wood for the role.
THE VIBE
Like a muddy, blood-stained flag waving over a swamp. It smells of gunpowder, fresh pine, and the heavy, humid air of a South Carolina summer.

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