Starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Liv Tyler
Director Jake Scott
Category IIB
What would happen if MTV filming techniques and trendy techno music were added to a film set in the mid-18th century? Well, go see Plunkett And Macleane, and you will experience the fantastic combination of the two extremes.
Based on real life characters, Plunkett and Macleane tells the story of two notorious highwaymen. When fate throws Plunkett (Robert Carlyle) and Macleane (Jonny Lee Miller) together, they enter into a 'gentleman's agreement' and form a partnership. With the former's brains and know-how and the latter's social connections, the duo set out to rob the rich and get Plunkett enough loot to travel to America. Macleane, on the other hand, just wants enough to sustain his high cost of living.
Plunkett And Macleane is the first feature film by the award-winning music video director Jake Scott, who did R.E.M.'s Everybody Hurts. His stylish editing and flashy camera work combine well with the mid-18th century England setting and, unusually for someone who has made his name in videos, he pays ample attention to plot and character development. And the excellent soundtrack - handled by Craig Armstrong - ties everything together nicely.