From sharing repugnance towards WBD’s handling of Turner Classic Movies to blasting Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Napoleon, Brian Cox has never bothered filtering his opinions. Recently, while sharing his distaste for Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, the Succession star stressed that Phoenix was terrible in the role, claiming he’d done a better job as France’s first emperor.
However, his criticisms weren’t limited to Scott’s historical epic, as the actor also took shots at one of Mel Gibson’s most acclaimed works to date, which scored five Oscar wins, including Best Picture.
Mel Gibson’s Performance Is the Lone Saving Grace of Braveheart per Brian Cox
While there are many reasons to love Braveheart, ranging from its grand scale to Mel Gibson‘s best impeccable performance, historically, the film wasn’t quite accurate. From Gibson’s dodgy Scottish accent to its simplistic politics, if you’re looking for the most accurate representation of the founding father of Scottish independence, William Wallace, Braveheart isn’t made for you.
Ridley Scott’s Napoleon too undergoes a similar issue, as the acclaimed director took some creative liberties with his depiction of the French emperor. So it’s not hard to see why Brian Cox, who found Napoleon terrible, wasn’t quite fond of Gibson’s second directorial project. However, unlike his viewpoint on Joaquin Phoenix, the Succession star did commend the Mad Max star for his portrayal of William Wallace.
Cox said: (via The Standard),
“‘Braveheart’ is a load of nonsense. Mel Gibson was wonderful but it’s a load of lies. He never impregnated the French princess. It is bollocks, that film.”
It’s quite apparent that Cox isn’t a big fan when historical adaptations deviate away from facts, which explains his distaste for the Oscar-winning epic.
The Script for The Passion of the Christ Sequel Is Finally Done
For the sequel to his 2004’s The Passion of the Christ, often considered one of Gibson’s most important works, the director joined forces with his Braveheart screenwriter Randall Wallace.
While the duo has been working on the script for the sequel since 2016, it seems the filming is set to begin soon, as Wallace revealed after years of rewrites, the screenplay is finally done.
He said:
“I ran into Mel just a couple of nights ago, we were talking about ‘when is this going to happen’ and I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag too early, but I think it’s coming very soon.”
Moreover, the Oscar winner implied that instead of following a linear structure, the film is going to be more philosophical and poetic, describing it as an “acid trip” with Jesus going to other realms.
Braveheart is available to stream on Paramount Plus.
