…yep, we’re looking at costuming up within a costume drama…and some drama it is…with highway robbers and damsels (definitely not in distress). Let me introduce Plunkett & Macleane (1999). One of my favourites (thank you Paul).
Ah, what a wonderful movie. Plunkett (Robert Carlyle) and Macleane (Jonny Lee Miller) encounter each other one dark and dreary night during some grave robbing ruby retrieving activities. And what a perfect pair of (gentlemen) highwaymen they become…Macleane’s former socialite statues gets him back amongst the wealthy while Plunkett’s criminal know-how… well, you get the basic scenario. Add Lady Rebecca Gibson (Liv Tyler), who’s star-struck by our pair (well, one in particular) and finds it all quite daring and so much more exciting than being the prim and proper niece of powerful Lord Gibson (Michael Gambon). And definitely more adventurous than being “courted” by halitosis suffering General Chance (Ken Stott) who’s always (mostly) one step behind getting the pair behind bars. Ensuring some wonderful entertainment, Lord Rochester (Alan Cumming) and his cronies just round it all off. Especially on the costume side of things:
“You forget something. I have morals” Oh please! The morals are long gone. Targeting the rich…not for the poor but for the grand plan of going across to America. For new beginnings. And gosh, the quotes are just wonderful. Actually, the whole movie is just great but if I tell you anything more you’re going to miss out on this gem (hmmm, no pun intended).
With a gentleman highwayman, ruby births (you’ll understand), gallows and balls…what more could you possibly want? Oh, you even get the costumes and the drama (and lots of comedy). I highly recommend.
Let the fireworks begin! Have fun!
And head over to Moon in Gemini for some other entries in this wonderful Costume Drama Blogathon (here)
I saw this film when it first came out, and back then I was a bit less tolerant of anachronisms in costume dramas (i.e. the modern music in the dance scene) than I am now. Time for a rewatch, clearly!
Thanks so much for contributing to the blogathon!
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Thanks for having me. As always- was good fun.
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I’ve never even heard of this fab film before. I just watched the trailer and it looks like a lot of fun, plus the costumes seem amazing. (And so glad to see Alan Cumming here.) Thanks in advance for this recommendation! 🙂
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Ah…so glad I could send something your way. I’m sure you’ll gave a great time watching it!
Enjoy the week ahead.
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Thanks for the mention. As I said previously my recommendations are very hit and miss, so I’m glad this film has become a favourite of years. It cheered me up a bit reading this.
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My typing is as bad as my recommendations, that should read yours instead of years.
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No worries…happens to all of us.
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Ah! So glad I sent a cheer your way!
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Can tell you like this one. Will have to check it out as there’s so many Scottish actors in the cast.
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It is absolutely wonderful! I think you’ll enjoy it.
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