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| THE EAGLE |
aka EAGLE OF THE NINTH
Year: 2011
USA: Focus Features
UK: Universal Pictures International UK
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark
Strong, Tahar Rahim, Denis O'Hare, Douglas Henshall, Dakin Matthews,
Jon Campling, Julian Lewis Jones, Paul Ritter, Lukács Bicskey,
Jamie Beamish, Ben O'Brien
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Country: USA / UK
USA & UK: 114 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for battle sequences and some disturbing
images
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate battle violence
USA Release Date: 11 February 2011
UK Release Date: 25 March 2011
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Synopsis
In 2nd-Century Britain, two men – master and slave – venture
beyond the edge of the known world on a dangerous and obsessive
quest that will push them beyond the boundaries of loyalty and
betrayal, friendship and hatred, deceit and heroism…The Roman epic
adventure THE EAGLE is directed by Kevin Macdonald (THE LAST KING OF
SCOTLAND, STATE OF PLAY, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER) and produced by
Duncan Kenworthy. Jeremy Brock (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) has
adapted the screenplay from Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel The
Eagle of the Ninth.
In 140 AD, the Roman Empire extends all the way to Britain –
though its grasp is incomplete, as the rebellious tribes of
Caledonia (today’s Scotland) hold sway in the far North. Marcus
Aquila (Channing Tatum) arrives in Britain, determined to restore
the tarnished reputation of his father, Flavius Aquila. It was 20
years earlier that Rome’s 5,000-strong Ninth Legion, under the
command of Flavius and carrying their golden emblem, the Eagle of
the Ninth, marched north into Caledonia. They never returned; Legion
and Eagle simply vanished into the mists. Angered, the Roman Emperor
Hadrian ordered the building of a wall to seal off the territory;
Hadrian’s Wall became the northernmost frontier of the Roman
Empire – the edge of the known world.
Driven to become a brilliant soldier and now given command of a
small fort in the southwest, Marcus bravely leads his troops during
a siege. Commended by Rome for his bravery, yet discharged from the
army because of his severe wounds, Marcus convalesces, demoralized,
in the villa of his Uncle Aquila (Donald Sutherland), a retired army
man. When Marcus impulsively gets a young Briton’s life spared at
a gladiatorial contest, Aquila buys the Briton, Esca (Jamie Bell),
to be Marcus’ slave. Marcus is dismissive of Esca, who harbours a
seething hatred of all things Roman. Yet Esca vows to serve the man
who has saved his life.
Hearing a rumour that the Eagle has been seen in a tribal temple in
the far north, Marcus is galvanized into action, and sets off with
Esca across Hadrian’s Wall. But the highlands of Caledonia are a
vast and savage wilderness, and Marcus must rely on his slave to
navigate the region. When they encounter ex-Roman soldier Guern
(Mark Strong), Marcus realizes that the mystery of his father’s
disappearance may well be linked to the secret of his own slave’s
identity and loyalty – a secret all the more pressing when the two
come face-to-face with the warriors of the fearsome Seal Prince (Tahar
Rahim).
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