Based on a bestselling book, The Eagle tells the story of a young Roman centurion (Channing Tatum) who sets out beyond Hadrian’s Wall into the barbaric wilderness, in search of a lost golden Eagle statue that will restore his family’s honour. Accompanied only by a young slave (Jamie Bell), the pair form an unlikely friendship as their search takes them across rain drenched mountains and amongst deadly tribes of Celtic warriors.
It’s hard for any film set in this era of human history to escape the shadow of epic blockbusters like Ben Hur or Gladiator. Comparisons are inevitable and expectations are high. The Eagle isn’t a sweeping tale of empires and armies, but it never pretends to be that. The film sets out to be a low key drama about the bonds of honour and loyalty. It meets these more modest ambitions with some success. Provided that audiences walk in understanding this they won’t leave too disappointed.
Those who feel a little squeamish at the thought of brutal bloodshed will be pleased to hear that the film’s fight sequences are frenetic but mostly sanitised and entirely gore free. Swords, Axes and daggers are wielded ruthlessly; but the camera diligently cuts away at the fatal and bloody moments. This could be a deliberate tactic to make the film more accessible for all the children who still read the original book in schools, or maybe it’s just a clever editing trick to avoid the expense of CGI blood.
Star Channing Tatum is a good fit for a well muscled soldier. However this might not be the right century for his chiselled all-American features and ever present designer stubble. It’s hard to ignore the fact that he’d look far more at home in an army recruitment ad than he does in a tunic. By contrast, Jamie Bell is more passable as a grimy young slave. I’m not sure which of the two actors should feel most offended by those observations.
The Eagle gambles heavily on there being a convincing chemistry between its two stars, as battles and bloodshed take a firm backseat to lingering conversations about duty and destiny. It’s probably not even fair to label The Eagle an action movie. There’s much more talking and walking than fighting and heroics. The film even features a long sequence where our heroes essentially ask a series of farmers for directions.
Bell and Tatum make a reasonable pairing and get a lot of help from authentic highland surroundings and a solid supporting cast. Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong and A Prophet star Tahar Rahim, lend the film the film a dramatic credibility that Channing Tatum’s face occasionally lacks.
Overall The Eagle never quite soars to the heights of historical epic but manages to stay comfortably watchable as a small scale drama. Obviously it won’t satisfy anyone mistakenly looking for a Gladiator sequel, but realistic audiences should still be entertained.
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