Word: scottishly
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With its rolling fairways, long grass and open invitation to the elements, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club has been called the most Scottish of all American golf courses. In truth, though, the site of the centennial U.S. Open that begins this week is the most American of all American courses...
...think the market for movies about Scottish freedom fighters of yore would be relatively inelastic. Once a decade ought to fill such need as we have for tallish tales about brawny, if disheveled, folk heroes rallying the clans against the English interlopers. But here comes Mel Gibson's Braveheart, recounting the revolutionary doings of myth-enshrouded William Wallace in the 13th century, while Rob Roy, featuring Liam Neeson as the legendary 17th century freedom fighter, is still in the theaters. One has to suspect that this curious coincidence is inspired less by a sudden Hollywood interest in the murkier realms...
...only is there conflict between the Scots and the British, but also between the nobles and the commoners. Traditionally the British king would bribe Scottish nobles into abandoning the battlefield before the war could begin. But in this case, William (a mere plebian) rides insolently into the discussion and starts the war with a few remarks that he must have learned at recess in Scottish elementary school. When they finally get down to fighting, the camera dips and swoops through the battlefield, careening realistically through the carnage...
Gibson plays it safe by dwelling on themes always close to the collective American heart. The heartlees but lethally well organized monarchy against the bank of riff-raff with real heart is a mirror of the American Revolution, while the greedy Scottish nobles who sell out the hard-working commoners reflect the American distrust of aristocracy...
William is a self-made man who rellies his people to the most glorious (although short-lived) victory in Scottish history. Unfortunately, you'd think he was the only virtuous man in Scotland. He is the voice of conscience for nobles, commoners, and the king's delegate. he even gives the future king of Scotland a pep talk/talking-to. But after the first two or three speeches, his recycled arguments about freedom and liberty get plain tedious...