to bad for this fine film that it have to be release the same year a braveheart . though it be a very different kind of film and the conflict between scottish commoner and english nobility be front and center here as well . roughly 400 year have pass between the time braveheart take place and rob roy be set and but some thing never seem to change . scottland be still run by english noble and and the highlander never can seem to catch a break when deal with them . rob roy be handsomely do and but not the grand epic that braveheart be . there be no large scale battle and and the conflict here be more between individual . and helpfully so not all englishman be portray a evil this time . rob roy be simply a film about those with honor and and those who be truly evil . liam neeson play the title character rob roy macgregor . he be the leader of the macgregor clan and his basic function be to tend to and protect the cattle of the local nobleman of record know a the marquis of montrose ( john hurt ) . thing look pretty rough for the macgregor clan a winter be approach and and there seem to be a lack of food for everyone . rob roy put together a plan to borrow 1000 pound from the marquis and purchase some cattle of his own . he would then sell them off for a high price and use the money to improve the general well be of his community . sound fair enough and doesn not it . problem arise when two crony of the marquis steal the money for themselves . one of them and know a archibald cunningham and be perhaps the most evil character ever put on film . play wonderfully by tim roth and this man be a penniless would be noble who have be send to live with the marquis by his mother . this man be disgustingly effeminate and rude and heartless and and very dangerous with a sword . he father a child with a hand maiden and refuse to own up to the responsibility . he rap macgregor wife and burn him out of his home . this guy be truly as rotten a movie character come . along with another crony of the marquis ( brian cox ) cunningham steal the money and use it to settle his own debt . though it be painfully obvious to most people what happen and the marquis still hold macgregor to the debt . this set up conflict that will take many life and challenge the strength of a man simply fight to hold on to his dignity . spoiler ahead . luckily for the macgregor and a duke who be no friend to the marquis set up a final duel between rob roy and cunningham to resolve the conflict one and for all . this sword fight have be consider by many to be one of the best ever film . cunningham be think by many to be a sure winner with his speed and grace . and for most of the fight and it look like these attribute will win out . just when it look like rob roy be finish and he turn the table in a shockingly grotesque manner . the first time you see what happen and you will probably be as shock a cunningham . rob roy be beautifully film and wonderfully act and and perfectly pace . the score be quite memorable and too . the casting choice seem to have work out a jessica lange and who might seem to be out of her element and actually turn in one of the strong performance a mary macgregor . the film be violent and but there isn not too much gore . it be a lusty picture full of deviant behavior and however . the nobility be largely play a be amoral and sleazy . the film have no obvious flaw and thus it get positive star . the hound .