Braveheart

Braveheart is a 1995 historical drama directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace. Gibson portrays William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish warrior who gained recognition when he came to the forefront of the First War of Scottish Independence by opposing King Edward I of England (portrayed by Patrick McGoohan) who was also known by the nickname "Longshanks".
The film won five Academy Awards at the 68th Academy Awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, and was nominated for an additional five.


Plot

In the 13th century, after several years of political unrest, Scotland is invaded and conquered by King Edward I of England (known as "Longshanks") (Patrick McGoohan). Longshanks summons the defeated Scottish nobles to a meeting, but instead of discussing terms as they were led to expect, he simply hangs them en masse.
Young William Wallace witnesses the treachery of Longshanks, survives the death of his father and brother, and is taken abroad by his uncle where he is educated. Many years later, Longshanks grants his noblemen land and privileges in Scotland, including Primae Noctis, the right of the lord to take a newly married Scottish woman into his bed on the wedding night. When he returns home, Wallace (Mel Gibson), intending to live peacefully, falls in love with his childhood sweetheart Murron MacClannough (Catherine McCormack), and they marry in secret so that she does not have to spend a night in the bed of the English lord.
Their marriage is eventually discovered and when an English soldier tries to rape Murron, Wallace fights off several soldiers and the two attempt to flee. But Murron is captured and publicly executed by the village sheriff, who proclaims "an assault on the King's soldiers is the same as an assault on the King himself." In retribution, Wallace and several villagers slaughter the English garrison and execute the sheriff.
Now compelled to rebel against the English, Wallace's legend spreads and hundreds of Scots from the surrounding clans join him. Wallace leads his army to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, as well as the sacking of the city of York. All the while, He seeks the assistance of Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen), son of nobleman Robert the Elder, and chief contender for the Scottish crown. Despite his growing admiration for Wallace and his cause, however, Robert is dominated by his father who wishes to secure the throne for his son by submitting to the English.
Worried by the threat of the rebellion, Longshanks sends the wife of his son Edward, the French princess Isabelle (Sophie Marceau) to negotiate with Wallace. In doing this, Longshanks hopes Wallace will kill her, as the French king will declare war on him in revenge. Though Wallace refuses the bribe sent with Isabelle by Longshanks, she becomes enamored with him after meeting him in person.
Meanwhile, Longshanks prepares an army to invade Scotland. Warned of the coming invasion by Isabelle, Wallace implores the Scottish nobility, who are more concerned with their own welfare, that immediate action is needed to counter the threat and take back the country. Personally leading the English army, Longshanks confronts the Scots at the bloody Battle of Falkirk, where noblemen Lochlan and Mornay betray Wallace. The Scots lose the battle, and Wallace is nearly killed when, in a last desperate act, he charges toward the departing Longshanks on horseback to personally kill him. However, he is intercepted by one of the king's lancers, who turns out to be Robert the Bruce. Realizing the Bruce has betrayed him, Wallace simply gives up and is nearly captured by the English. Robert, however, immediately remorseful of his betrayal takes him to safety before he is captured.
Over the next seven years, Wallace goes into hiding, waging a protracted guerilla war on the English. In retribution for their betrayal of him at Falkirk, Wallace brutally murders Mornay and Lochlan. Robert the Bruce, intending to join Wallace and commit troops to the war, sets up a meeting with him in Edinburgh. Unknown to either man, however, Robert's father has conspired with other nobles to capture Wallace and hand him over to the English. Learning of his treachery, the Bruce disowns his father.
In London, Wallace is brought before an English magistrate, tried for high treason and after refusing to acknowledge Longshanks as his king, condemned to public torture and beheading. Following a tryst with Wallace, Isabelle exacts her own revenge on the now terminally ill Longshanks by telling him she is pregnant with another man's child, intent on ending Longshank's line and ruling in his son's place.
Meanwhile, Wallace is taken to the Tower of London, where a crowd has gathered to witness his execution. Despite being half hanged, racked and disemboweled alive, Wallace refuses to submit to the king and beg for mercy. Awed by his courage, the watching Londoners begin to yell for mercy and the magistrate offers him one final chance. Instead, the defiant Wallace uses the last amount of strength in his body to shout, "Freedom!" Just before the axe falls, Wallace sees a vision of Murron in the crowd smiling at him.
In 1314, (nine years after Wallace's death), Robert the Bruce, now Scotland's king and still guilt-ridden over his involvement in Wallace's betrayal, leads a Scottish army before a ceremonial line of English troops on the fields of Bannockburn where he is to formally accept English rule. As he begins to ride toward the English, the Bruce stops and turns back to his troops. Invoking Wallace's memory, he implores them to fight with him as they did with Wallace. He then leads his army into battle against the English, with him and his men chanting Wallace's name as they charge. This surprises the English soldiers, who were not expecting to fight.
The film ends with a voiceover from Gibson, which intones that Scotland won their freedom in this battle.

scent of a women

Scent of a Woman is a 1992 drama film directed by Martin Brest that tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a job as an assistant to an irascible, blind, medically retired Army officer. It stars Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Gabrielle Anwar. It is a remake of the Italian movie Profumo di donna (1974), directed by Dino Risi.
The movie was adapted by Bo Goldman from the novel Il buio e il miele (Italian: Darkness and Honey) by Giovanni Arpino and from the 1974 screenplay by Ruggero Maccari and Dino Risi. Goldman originally titled his adaptation "Stench of a Woman", which was met by resistance from the studio. It was directed by Martin Brest.
Al Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance; the film was nominated for Best Director (lost to Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven), Best Picture (lost to Unforgiven) and Best Adapted Screenplay (lost to Howards End).
The film won three major awards at the Golden Globe Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Motion Picture – Drama.
Portions of the movie were filmed on location at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, the Emma Willard School, an all-girls school in Troy, New York, and at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City.


PLOT

Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnell) is a student at an exclusive New England prep school. Unlike most of his peers, Charlie was not born to a wealthy family. To pay for a flight home for Christmas, Charlie accepts a temporary job over Thanksgiving weekend looking after a retired Army Ranger Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino), who Charlie discovers to be a cantankerous blind alcoholic.
Charlie and George Willis, Jr. (Philip Seymour Hoffman), another student at the preparatory school, bear witness to several students setting up a prank for the school's headmaster Trask (James Rebhorn). Following the prank, Trask presses Charlie and George to divulge the names of the perpetrators. When Charlie refuses to talk, Trask offers a bribe, a letter of recommendation that would virtually guarantee his acceptance to Harvard. Charlie continues to remain silent but appears conflicted.
Shortly after Charlie arrives, Slade unexpectedly whisks Charlie off on a trip to New York City. Slade reserves a room at the Waldorf-Astoria. During dinner at an upscale restaurant, Slade glibly states the goals of the trip, which involve enjoying luxurious accommodations in New York before "blowing his brains out". Charlie is taken aback and does not know if Slade is serious.
They pay an uninvited surprise visit to Slade's brother's home for Thanksgiving dinner. Slade is an unpleasant surprise for the family, as he deliberately provokes everyone and the night ends in acrimony.
As they return to New York, Charlie tells Slade about his complications at school. Slade advises Charlie to inform on his classmates and go to Harvard, warning him that Willis will probably be pressured into not maintaining silence. Later at a restaurant, Charlie and Slade observe Donna (Gabrielle Anwar), a beautiful young woman waiting for her date. Although blind, Slade leads Donna in a spectacular tango ("Por una Cabeza") on the dance floor. That night, he hires an escort.
Deeply despondent the next morning, Slade responds to Charlie's suggestion that they test drive a Ferrari. Charlie lets Slade drive the car and Slade begins speeding, attracting the attention of a police officer (Ron Eldard), who Slade manages to appease without giving away his blindness.
When they return to the hotel, Slade sends Charlie out on list of errands. Charlie initially leaves the room but quickly becomes suspicious. Charlie returns to find Slade preparing to commit suicide. Charlie intervenes and attempts to grab Slade's gun. Slade, however, easily overpowers him. After a tense argument, Slade backs down.
The two return to New England. At school, Charlie and Willis are subjected to a formal inquiry in front of the student body and the student/faculty disciplinary committee. As headmaster Trask is opening the proceedings, Slade unexpectedly returns to the school, joining Charlie on the auditorium stage for support. For his defense, Willis has enlisted the help of his wealthy father, and divulges the names of the perpetrators, qualifying that his vision wasn't clear. When pressed for more details, Willis passes the burden to Charlie. Although struggling with his decision, Charlie gives no information, so Trask recommends Charlie's expulsion. At this, Slade cannot contain himself and launches into a passionate speech defending Charlie and questioning the integrity of a system that rewards informing on colleagues. The disciplinary committee decides to place on probation the students named by Willis, and to give Willis neither recognition nor commendation for his testimony. They excuse Charlie from any punishment, to loud applause from the student body.
As Charlie escorts Slade to his limo, a female political science teacher who was part of the disciplinary committee approaches Slade, commending him for his speech. Seeing a spark between them, Charlie tells the teacher that Slade served on President Lyndon Johnson's staff. A romantic prospect is hinted between Slade and the teacher as they part ways.
Charlie takes Slade home, where they part ways. The colonel walks towards his house and greets his niece's young children happily.