‘Ironclad’ is a micro-epic that looks at the siege of Rochester Castle by King John in the 13th century. It shows the bloody struggle of the upholders of the Magna Carta as they seek to defy John, who decides to rescind after signing the treaty. While not scoring high on the emotional front, the film delivers somewhat on its key promise: action.The story revolves around the Magna Carta, a document that grants Englishmen equal rights and reduces the overarching powers of the monarchy. Forced to sign it by a group of Barons, King John decides to go back on the agreement and starts a vicious military campaign to destroy the Barons one by one. En route he kills Abbot Marcus, who was being protected by 3 Knights Templar. One of them, Marshall vows to avenge the Abbot’s death and with the help of Baron Albany, puts together a small team of men and proceeds to take control of Rochester Castle, the key to Southern England. King John with his group of Danish mercenaries arrives and the siege begins.
The film is not cerebral at all. The characters are uni-dimensional and the body language and the belligerent manner in which they interact has all the makings of an action film minus the brains. The small group of defenders is a poor imitation of the spaghetti western with characters as diverse as a portly warrior, a nymphomaniac and a carpenter who leaves his 2 children behind (remember Unforgiven?).
However, Jonathan English’s direction can be praised for the rawness with which he has shot the battle sequences. That alone is the usp of the film. Although the scale is small, the sequences showcase the brutality of real action vs. cinematic bells and whistles that are often added. You can see mining techniques being used to demolish the castle, using pig fat as the explosive. His attempt to showcase the love between a reluctant Marshall and the daughter of the protector of Rochester falls flat with both actors unable to ignite the passion. A deeper characterization of John, Marshall and the Barons would have helped add depth to the story.
The acting honors sadly go to no one. The incredibly talented Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of King John, shows him to be depressed, weak and slightly off-center. Although history suggests that John had a complex personality, none of that comes forth in this film. The one scene where he berates Baron Albany on the virtues of the Royal family is the stand out performance in this film. James Purefoy as Marshall, does not pass muster as the brooding Knight.
‘Ironclad’ is a passable film, if you are tired of heavy films and need some mindless action.
