"THE EAGLE" — ★★★ — Channing Tatum, Donald Sutherland, Jamie Bell; PG-13 (battle sequences and disturbing images); in general release
With "The Eagle," director Kevin MacDonald pulls off something many veteran filmmakers have fumbled in recent years: He successfully turns historical subject matter into an entertaining popcorn flick.
Based on a 1954 novel by Rosemary Sutcliff, "The Eagle" takes place 20 years after the mysterious disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion during a campaign in Caledonia (modern Scotland), circa A.D. 120.
The story follows Marcus Flavius Aquila (Channing Tatum), a young centurion and son of the Ninth Legion's commanding officer. Haunted by his father's reputation as the man who allowed the symbol of Roman glory, a golden eagle statue, to fall into enemy hands, Aquila and his Brigantian slave Esca (Jamie Bell) set off on a journey to uncover the fate of the Ninth Legion in the northern highlands.
MacDonald, whose YouTube collaboration "Life in a Day" was one of the highlights of this year's Sundance Film Festival, demonstrates his versatility as a director with this foray into more mainstream fare, building on his already impressive background in both documentary and narrative formats to make a good — if not quite great — example of historical fiction.
The movie's detractors will undoubtedly emphasize how the screenplay at times strains plausibility, or how it drags a little bit toward the middle.
And it's true; it does.
Also, although no more anachronistic than the Queen's English audiences are accustomed to for anything set during antiquity, the filmmakers' choice to eschew tradition and instead use thick American accents for the Roman characters can be extremely distracting.
The great Donald Sutherland, for example, seems completely out of place as Aquila's uncle.
Even though "The Eagle" isn't without its share of problems, it does a lot of things right. Unlike many large-scale historical productions that feel bloated, "The Eagle," which was shot for around $20 million, makes effective use of its relatively low budget by keeping its focus narrow.
MacDonald also manages to strike a nice balance between the movie's competing historical and fictional elements, using oftentimes-sparse archaeological evidence to re-create second century England in a way that casual history buffs will appreciate without alienating broader audiences.
As for the acting, Tatum's portrayal of a Roman centurion won't convert any of his critics, but he is serviceable in the part.
The movie picks up about a third of the way in, however, thanks to the presence of Jamie Bell. His performance as the Brigantian slave supplies some of the intensity and charisma Tatum occasionally lacks. Bell's character also provides the primary moral conflict of the story when he forces Aquila to re-examine his allegiance to imperialist Rome.
Perhaps the greatest contribution to the film, though, is the gorgeous cinematography by Danny Boyle regular Anthony Dod Mantle ("Slumdog Millionaire," "127 Hours"). His lens elevates the film's visual aesthetic in a way that belies its modest budget and sets it apart from other historical films, including last year's bloody "Centurion," with which "The Eagle" bears a few superficial similarities.
"The Eagle" isn't "Gladiator," but it never aspires to be. Taken on its own terms, it is a surprisingly entertaining movie that skillfully blends history and fiction.
"The Eagle" is rated PG-13 for battle sequences and disturbing images; running time: 114 minutes