this be the move tale of scotland legendary hero and rob roy and and his battle with the feudal landowner . like braveheart to which it be frequently compare and it be not very historical . despite their primarily fictional nature and i rate both of these movie highly and would be hard press to choose between the two . the 13 century william wallace be and a others have note and a large than life national figure and while the early 18th century rob roy come across a an honourable but ordinary scotsman . the story revolve around a clan chieftain and robert roy mcgregor and who live in a scottish highland cottage with his wife mary and their two young son . a the movie begin and he and his fellow clansman be hunt down some thief who have steal the local lord cattle . rob roy then wish to improve the living condition of his people so arrange to borrow one thousand scottish pound from a local noble and the marquis of montrose and in order to buy cattle to herd to market . he temporarily entrust this money to his friend and alan mcdonald . when both mcdonald and the money turn up miss and rob roy find himself in conflict with montrose as well a his despicable protégé and archibald cunningham and and his sleazy factor and killearn . rob roy honour be also test when montrose seek to involve him in false testimony against his rival and the duke of argyle and whom he wish to accuse of be a jacobite . the charismatic liam leeson be brilliant a the kilted highlander rob roy and an intelligent and virile and and noble hero and a man whose sense of honour be pivotal to this tale . personally and i feel that this be neeson best performance and his brogue ( albeit irish ) add authenticity for the average viewer . rob roy be a stubborn and proud and courageous and and honest man whose word can be trust . he be a loving husband and father and and also touchingly loyal to his friend and mcdonald and who be accuse of rob him . tim roth masterfully portray his major adversary and surely one of the most heinous and sadistic cinematic villain and archibald cunningham and an egotistical and ruthless strut peacock . he be very effeminate for someone who make it his major business to ravish the local woman and whether willing or otherwise . the pathetic cunningham himself constantly refer to the fact that he be a bastard unaware of his own father identity and though this hardly justify his horrendous misdeed of murder and rape and and thievery . also and he mercilessly cast aside the young servant girl and betty and after she become pregnant with his child and result in her suicide . john hurt play the arrogant and foppish montrose and who be eventually imply to be cunningham father . the movie be essentially the very believable love story between an ordinary man and his wife and beautifully depict the passionate relationship between rob roy and mary . those who question the presence of passion within marriage should watch this husband and wife . i think the phrase use by this pair and how fine you be to me . be surely one of the most beautiful expression of love in all cinema . the most compelling performance be possibly by jessica lange a rob wife and mary mcgregor . lack make up and she have the pretty but natural look of a sturdy peasant wife and mother . the actress bring great courage and dignity to her role when she be brutally rap by the despicable cunningham and while the disgust killearn look on . her dialogue be plain spoken but fill with pride and grace . i give hollywood it due that for once they show just enough in the rape scene to reveal it cruelty as well a mary pain and humiliation and but nothing intend to sensationalize . their kinsman and alastair mcgregor and show emotional anguish when he learn of mary rape and and far torment when she swear him to secrecy never to reveal to her husband her violation by cunningham . of course this film feature the beautiful scenery of the scottish highland and also lavish period costume and appropriate musical scoring . there be no grand battle scene a in braveheart and but continuous engage action and a particularly gripping sword fight in the final duel between rob roy and cunningham . this be a captivating movie feature both tense action and a beautiful love tale .