`The Patriot` - Battle of the blue eyes

In the midst of the Revolutionary War, the cold remorselessness that defines the piercing blue eyes of Col. William Tovington softens a bit in the glow of fireflies set against the pitch-blackness of night. The British cavalry officer marvels at the natural beauty that thrives amid these barbaric American colonies. A soft, sensitive, tree-hugging Tovington? Surely this is not a scene from the Mel Gibson epic, "The Patriot" (Columbia TriStar, R, DVD/VHS) - the action movie in which Tovington casually murders women and children and takes malicious pleasure in burning down a church full of innocent people?

"Ah, but it is," says British actor Jason Isaacs, whose stirring performance put Tovington at the top of the list of the all-time most-evil movie characters ever. That particular scene just didn`t make it into the movie, says the Liverpool native who is pretty certain that it did make it on to the deleted-scenes inventory in the DVD version of the movie. The scene was one of Isaacs` favorites, but you`ll not hear him complain about his best work ending up on the cutting room floor. He`s quite pleased with what director Roland Emmerich got on screen. So is his fan base, which grew steadily with his memorable appearances in "Dragonheart," "End of the Affair," and "Armageddon" - and hit warp speed with "The Patriot."

Isaacs even boasts a couple of women fans who maintain elaborate Web sites devoted to one topic: Jason Isaacs. The actor - a far more jovial person than his on-screen character suggests - has the distinction of being universally reviled and admired for his role as Tovington, so convincing was his portrayal. The mayor of Liverpool condemned the portrayal (based loosely on a real British officer, who coincidentally was also a native son of Liverpool and who was no angel), forcing Isaacs to challenge him to a public arm-wrestling match.

Isaacs thinks every one of us has a little Tovington locked up inside - and that it is from here that our fascination with his portrayal of evil stems. There, but for circumstances, goes you or I. In fact, Isaacs ventures, Mel Gibson`s title character (Benjamin Martin) is merely the flip side of Tovington`s coin. He calls the film the "battle of the blue eyes." Tovington slaughters without remorse. Gibson`s Martin slaughters with remorse. Whose victims are better off for the post-mortem response? But, mostly, Benjamin Martin is a peaceful man of honor, a family man, a landowner, a politician, a man of principles.

In his first encounter with Tovington, he trembles with fear - perhaps at seeing what his own nature, if unchecked, could accomplish.

"Mel was gracious enough and smart enough to know that he should be terrified of me," says Isaacs.

Once that fear was established, Tovington became evil incarnate in the minds of audiences.

"His fear gives my character all the power it needs."

But it is the barbaric behavior of Tovington that unleashes a more fierce evil in Martin. In the end, only one of these men can survive - a duel of titans against the backdrop of Revolutionary War-era South Carolina. Since the phenomenal success of "The Patriot," Isaacs has naturally received offers to play other evil characters in Hollywood movies. They stopped coming as he steadily turned them down.

"I`ve played a priest, a lot of good guys," he noted.

This is one actor with a distinguished list of parts on stage, British TV and films who won`t be pigeonholed by Hollywood.

Speaking of images you won`t see in the movie, producer Dean Devlin (whose partnership with Emmerich includes "Stargate," "Independence Day" and "Godzilla") recalls the day they decided to do "The Patriot." Emmerich was in Mexico and Devlin was in Hollywood, both were on the phone, with the same script in their hands.

"We both had tears in our eyes, we were so moved by this story," he recalls. "You wait your whole life for a movie (to produce) that can make you cry."

Getting Gibson for the lead was a no-brainer.

"Any time you have a strong hero who is a family man with lots of kids, you go to Mel," he said with a chuckle.

Devlin calls Isaacs, the movie`s "secret weapon." The choice became clear when Devlin and Emmerich saw a video cassette audition sent to them by Isaacs. They flew him in to Hollywood the next day and offered him the role.

"With Gibson and Isaacs, you have the blue-eyed spectrum," says Devlin. "One has eyes that warm you, the other`s freeze you."ALSO THIS WEEK:

"Up at the Villa" (USA, PG-13, VHS/rental, DVD/$25) - The remnants of Tuscany`s Anglo-American expatriate community enjoys a final fling on the eve of World War II. Powerful, critically hailed performances from Sean Penn, Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne Bancroft.

"Center Stage" (Columbia TriStar, PG-13, VHS/rental, DVD/$25) - Gifted young ballet dancers juggle ambition, romance and pain in the extremely competitive world of professional dancing`s American Ballet Company. Peter Gallagher, Debra Monk and Donna Murphy lead a mostly unknown ensemble cast.

"Picking Up the Pieces" (Artisan, R, VHS/rental, DVD/$25) - In this irreverent comedy from director Alfonso Arau, a severed hand turns up in a quiet Southwest village and soon miracles begin to happen. Woody Allen is a kosher butcher who finds that his wife (Sharon Stone) is cheating on him, so he chops her into pieces and drives off to bury her in the desert. A hand plops out of the back of his pickup truck and is found by a blind woman who suddenly sees again. Also stars Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Cheech Marin, David Schwimmer and Keifer Sutherland.

You`d think this was a Robert Altman film: cameos by Fran Drescher, Andy Dick, Elliott Gould, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lily Tomlin and more.

"Submerged" (Paramount, R, VHS/rental, DVD/$30) - A direct-to-video action thriller about a band of terrorists who hijack and sink a jumbo jet while trying to gain control of a defense satellite system. Stars Coolio, Nicole Eggert, Dennis Weaver and Fred Williamson.DVD UPDATE:

The clever political satire "Bob Roberts" in which Tim Robbins made his directorial debut (wrote and starred, as well) is available in the DVD format for the first time, priced under $25. Robbins provides a commentary track.

Robbins plays a multimillionaire who campaigns for the U.S. Senate with guitar in hand and positions himself as a homespun candidate of the people. Available now.

A special "Awards Edition" of the five-time Oscar winner "American Beauty" is available this week with nearly four hours of additional programming, including commentary by director Sam Mendes and scriptwriter Alan Ball. Also included, a storyboard feature, making of mini-documentary, production notes, cast and crew bios and theatrical trailers. Priced under $27. (A VHS version is also available for a dollar less.)

Out in time for Halloween: debut DVD versions of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Bride of Re-Animator," both with extra features, including deleted scenes and bloopers. Priced under $30 each.

Due Jan. 9 for the first time on DVD, the Billy Crystal-Meg Ryan romantic comedy, "When Harry Met Sally," with commentary track by director Rob Reiner.COMING ATTRACTIONS:

Nov. 7: Ensemble drama from director Michael Cristofer, "Body Shots."

Nov. 21: "The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit" - on one VHS tape, three classics ("The Wrong Trousers," "A Close Shave" and "A Grand Day Out") for under $20. Also, the Jimmy Smits boxing-drama "Price of Glory."

Dec. 19: Engaging documentary about fathers and sons around the world, "Pop & Me."

(c) Copley News Service

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: Robert J. Hawkins