Chris Pine Transforms Into Robert the Bruce for Historical Epic ‘Outlaw King’

Sandra Miska

Chris Pine, perhaps best known for exploring space in the “Star Trek” reboot film series, boldly goes to medieval Scotland in his latest, the Netflix original “Outlaw King.” Those who have seen the 1995 epic “Braveheart,” will be familiar with the struggle that is depicted here, the one between the English Crown and the Scottish rebels fighting to secure their independence. “Outlaw King” begins in 1304 and picks up from where that film left off, with English King Edward I (Stephen Dillane) having just put an end to the rebellion led by William Wallace. Pine plays Robert the Bruce, a noble whose father (James Cosmo) is one of the many Scottish lords forced to pay fealty to the tyrannical king for the sake of peace. After the violent death of Wallace, Robert shows incredible valor as he leads his men into a string of bloody battles, forsaking his own comfort and risking his life to take his country back.

While not completely without of the romanticism of “Braveheart,” “Outlaw King” perhaps does a better job of painting a picture of the brutal living conditions of the period, especially in Scotland, where conflict between different clans caused centuries of instability. Pine portrays Robert, whose descendent Elizabeth Windsor is the current queen of the United Kingdom, as no saint. In his fight to be king of the Scots, he kills another noble, John Comyn (Callan Mulvey), something that doesn’t sit well with some of the other lords. He does, however, have on his side one James Douglas (chameleon Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a fierce noble hellbent on reclaiming his birthright after being being publicly ridiculed by King Edward. Edward’s cruel ways doesn’t just extend to the Scots; he also has a habit of belittling his own son and heir, Prince Edward (an excellent Billy Howle), who in turn becomes a sniveling, entitled man.

While his love for Scotland and (most) and most of its people comes through, the heart of “Outlaw King” is Robert’s relationship with his family, which includes Marjorie (Josie O’Brien), his little girl from his first marriage, and Elizabeth de Burgh (rising star Florence Pugh), Edward’s goddaughter, whom he gives to Robert in marriage. While many of the rules of chivalry have been tossed aside when it comes to war, Robert treats his new wife with respect, which grows to mutual admiration and love. She is crowned beside him when his people declare him king, and in one of the more stirring scenes, defends him to the odious prince.

Director and co-writer David Mackenzie, who previously worked with Pine on “Hell or High Water, doesn’t hold back when it comes to depicting the gritty realities of war, but something is lacking when it comes to characterization. Not enough time is spent getting to know who Robert is outside the battlefield, and the relationship between him and Elizabeth could have been explored further.

“Outlaw King” premieres Nov. 9 on Netflix and in select theaters.