The Mosley Review: The Death of Robin Hood

Here's a fun fact. Second only to Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood is the most adapted character in media to date. That is quite an accomplishment given that he has always been at the example of a hero of the people. The life of an outlaw has always been glorified and glamourized by Robin Hood and eventually cowboys, but what isn't spoken about is the reality of the lifestyle. The amount of blood shed, bodies piled up overtime and the effect on the later generations of those slain weighs on you. The constant fear of hunted down by the law or others never leaves. That's what this film highlights the best and I loved every bit of it. The first 15 minutes shows you exactly the type of brutal world that the famous outlaw lived in and how sometimes, not all killing was justified. I loved the themes of mortality, regret and melancholy in a time where nobility was not so easily defined.

Hugh Jackman was outstanding as the older, grizzled and weary Robin Hood. The exploration of a legend of this caliber can go in the direction of all out hero or villain, but Hugh plays as something I’ve never seen done with the character. Hugh plays him as just a regular man that is plagued by his bloody legend instead of empowered by it. The pain of living almost eternally on the run from the relatives of those he killed was fascinating to explore and how each kill did not bring him joy, but sorrow. In his youth, he may have enjoyed the thrill, but with age comes wisdom and reflection. Hugh does a magnificent job portraying the weight of Robin's past. Bill Skarsgård was great as Robin's oldest and most loyal companion, Little John. Little John has always been a man of action and I liked seeing the arrested development of the character. He's always been a family man and that rings true here, but through him, you see that he never really grew out of that mentality of always wanting a glorious adventure that leads to bloodshed. You can feel the years of friendship between him and Robin and how their skills have never dulled. There is one scene in particular that showcases the subtle distain Robin has for violence and the ravenous joy Little John gains in contrast. Jodie Comer is always wonderful and as the prioress of a rural nunnery, Sister Brigid, she exceptional. There was a calming nature to her as she tended to those on the island with her, but also a heavy tension. The moments that build between her and Robin were wholesome and peaceful. Brigid's healing words bring such calm to Robin and I loved that he didn't take it all for granted and wanted to protect it. Faith Delaney was great as Little Margaret. Its a hard achievement to portray such a range of emotion at a young age with very little dialogue. Faith was a natural and I loved her scenes the most once she opens up to Robin. Noah Jupe was really good as Arthur / Godwyn. There was so much indecision in his eyes as he was on a mission and I liked the subtlety of it. Murray Bartlett was good as The Leper and was a voice of perspective for Robin. There was more to the character that took me by surprise and I loved how he impacted the lore of Robin's past.

The score by Jim Ghedi was both haunting and somber. I loved the weight of it in the opening action sequences as it helped elevate the darkness of the brutality and tone of the first half of the film. Visually, the film was smokey, cold and dirty as it perfectly illustrated the harshness of the life of Robin and later, the beauty of the world around him. Once we get to the island, the film lightens up and becomes very melodic. Overall, I enjoyed this slower paced and meditative look at the last days of the legendary outlaw. The film captures the majority of the true lore of Robin's last days and I enjoyed the many little details and changes. Not many films take the time to explore characters with atmosphere and reflection anymore and I was truly happy to see this film take that almost forgotten path. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!