The Eagle (2011)

Of late, a sub-genre which I would like to call micro-epic for lack of a better word seems to be gaining momentum. The films are set in Ancient History or the Middle Ages, focus on lesser known battles or sieges and are made with a comparatively smaller budget. They use lesser known actors and rely on a good combination of action and drama to draw in the audience. ‘The Eagle’ is one such micro-epic, a good story told about the quest of a Centurion to recover the Roman Eagle Standard that was lost when his father’s legion was killed in North Britain.

For Marcus Aquila, the request for transfer to Britain comes with a hidden agenda to clear his family name, which was tarnished when his father lost the revered Roman Eagle Standard, when his Ninth Legion disappeared somewhere in North Britain. The Emperor of Rome was so insulted that he built Hadrian’s Wall to segregate North Britain from the rest of the known world. Marcus takes charge of his garrison and protects it against a charge by Celtic tribesmen, but is discharged honorably from the military owing to a serious injury.

Following a brief period of recuperation, during which he saves the life of a local slave, Esca, Marcus decides to cross Hadrian’s Wall to look for the Eagle Standard and to find out what happened to the Roman Ninth Legion. Along the way he encounters a dangerous and unique world of tribes.

Kevin Macdonald, who gave us the edgy ‘Last King of Scotland’ transforms Jemery Brock’s screenplay into a blood and guts depiction of valor and honor. One of the interesting battle sequences in the film show us how the Roman’s used battle formations like the Turtle to thwart enemy attacks even though they are surrounded or outnumbered. He creates a mystical world beyond Hadrian’s Wall that evokes fear and suspense over the fate of the Ninth Legion. It is that sense of fear of the unknown that makes the film work. The usage of the language of the times-Gaelic also lends a touch of authenticity. The ending however seems a bit jingoistic and contrived, but can be forgiven for a good build up.

Channing Tatum as Marcus Aquila does a good job of physically portraying a warrior, but falls short on the emotional front and comes across as a one expression actor. His performance is overshadowed by Jamie Bell as Esca, who delivers a restrained performance combining pride, loyalty and bravery. Donald Sutherland shines in a cameo as Aquila’s uncle who helps him recover from the injury.

‘The Eagle’ is a hard working film that leaves you with a good story told.