Robin Hood, not the hero he’s been made out to be by countless stories over the years, finds himself near death as he rests in a sanctuary trying to recover from his injuries. His tormented past catches up with him with new arrivals in the area, some of whom may have ties to his previous atrocities. Will he be able to redeem himself, or is he doomed to spend his dying days without salvation?
How long have stories of Robin Hood existed? There’s no definitive answer to that question, but as long as there have been movie screens, there have been movies about the famed outlaw. Whether it’s Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner, or a cast of animated animals, Robin Hood remains one of the most depicted characters in all of fiction. Director/screenwriter Michael Sarnoski tries a completely different take on the character with THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD. The results are decidedly mixed, but it’s certainly a unique take.
Right from the get-go, Sarnoski makes it clear his version of Robin Hood is far removed from any prior one you’ve seen on the screen before. The first 30 minutes shows that he’s no hero, featuring brutal R-rated violence that rarely lets up, with pain and loss for characters running rampant. While the movie doesn’t build on these moments like it should, they’re certainly the most impactful and what will stay in your mind long after you’re done viewing. Hugh Jackman, who’ll forever be known as Wolverine from the X-MEN film franchise, does a solid job playing this tortured and less heroic version of Robin, even if you find yourself wishing he’d been playing this character in a better film.
The majority of the film takes place in a sanctuary/healing center where the wounded Robin finds himself recovering, reunited with some faces from his past, and a few new ones, including a struggling leper and the beautiful woman helping to heal those who are ill and injured. THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD goes from the brutal action thriller of its first 30 minutes or so, to a slow-moving character study. Unfortunately, those first 30 minutes felt like they were setting up an entirely different film than the one that ultimately unfolds. While beautifully shot, excellently cast, and superbly scored, THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD’s biggest flaw is that it’s frustratingly mundane. The characters lack any real depth, and for the most part, nothing of any major consequence happens. This moviegoer found himself waiting for a climax that never arrived.
THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD has an amazing cast. It looks gorgeous. Hugh Jackman steals the show throughout. But the problem is that there’s too little going on, and the ultraviolent opening act and the majority of the rest of the film feel like two different movies. It has potential, but sadly goes nowhere. It’s not the epic you’re expecting. As much as there is to admire, I can’t quite recommend it.