Remember when Channing Tatum was only known for being a dancer and bad actor from Step Up. Well since then he’s improved on screen and taken projects all over the board. In his latest, The Eagle, Tatum stars as a Roman soldier attempting to regain his family’s honor by finding a treasured statue lost in northern England. He enlists the help of his slave, Jamie Bell, who is a native of the foreign territory.
The movie is basically split into three sections, Tatum as a soldier, Tatum in the hospital and Tatum in the wilderness. This division slows any momentum the film has in its explosive beginning. I would even go as far as saying the middle is flat out boring. The final third delivers and ultimately makes the movie with quality action and an interesting fish out of water scenario. The dreary Scottish backdrop definitely doesn’t hurt the ambiance either.
Tatum steps up as a likable and strong player in The Eagle. While I can’t say it bothers me greatly, Tatum and the other actors playing the Romans don’t feign accents at all. I suppose they were trying to avoid a disaster like Nicholas Cage’s accent in Season of the Witch. But the American accents do take a way from the authenticity. In regard to Jamie Bell, he has become quite a consistent actor, even though he doesn’t work as much as other big names. His performance here as a moody slave is believable and a great complement to Tatum.
Now as an unnecessary aside I have to mention that the amount of unheard of names in the credits of The Eagle is baffling. I don’t begin to claim I am learned in every culture but the 50 plus Zoltan’s listed is just a bit surprising to a New Yorker. (8.1 out of 10)
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