Read on Twitter
Looking forward to joining this...my first #HATM experience. https://twitter.com/HerbertHistory/status/1262422244980142082
Full disclosure, I have some opinions about our man Mel. https://twitter.com/SethCotlar/status/1061629940632707072?s=20
Here begins my #HATM live tweeting of The Patriot. As many others have pointed out, I'd forgotten that I've signed up for 2 hours and 45 minutes of this.
The opening shot of the ax reminds me that the filmmakers spent a ton of money getting the material culture right, consulting with many experts, but somehow failed to give a single shit about getting the history of slavery right. #HATM
The motif of the bumbling patriarch, the object of laughter, has always intrigued me. The scene in the barn when all of his "dependents" chuckle at him breaking the chair is nuts. Esp. when he says "sorry" to the enslaved man who is watching him rage about it. #HATM
The children wait til Mel gives them permission to open the mail...the dutiful children obeying the patriarch. The scenes of grateful children & enslaved people and the benevolent (yet also incipiently murderous) patriarch are key to understanding the appeal of this film. #HATM
The children are from "good stock, on their mother's side of course." Hello Henry Ford! #HATM
I didn't get a harrumph out of that guy! #HATM
Chris Cooper should have stuck to John Sayles films. #HATM
Ah, an elected legislature can be as tyrannical as any monarch. Anti-democratic Mel really sold that line. #HATM
"I don't have the luxury of principles." Part of Mel's appeal in this film is that he's NOT fighting because he believes in anything bigger than his family and his economic interests. How fascinating for a "patriotic" film. #HATM
"I'll make him a quartermaster."
Mel: "Good luck."
More "bloodlines" references. Both Mel and his son are born warriors, we're to believe. #HATM
Mel: "Good luck."
More "bloodlines" references. Both Mel and his son are born warriors, we're to believe. #HATM
Mel is simultaneously the new age dad in this film, and a vicious, animalistic killer. And we are supposed to love him for both of these qualities. Some might call it "the dialectic of masculinity." I'd call it anachronistic bullshit. Both sides. #HATM
This scene with the battle in the distance is a useful reminder for why we launch fireworks on July 4. It commemorates violence and death. #HATM
Redcoats emerge out of the forest like locusts.I think we're supposed to think of them as the baddies. #HATM
The British officer has some strong "You'll Be Back" energy. #HATM
This scene where they say "we're not slaves, we work this land as free men" is just...yeah...it's just....no. The entire film hinges on that scene. #HATM
They brought the war to Mel, so he had no choice but to fight. It's like turning the American Revolution into an allegory for the Confederate cause. Gawd this film is sickening. #HATM
The way this film depicts loyal slaves was clearly unconscionable 20 years ago when this film came out. It's only more apparently so now. This is like a 1950s-era film about the American Revolution when it comes to depicting black characters. #hatm
"Lord make me fast and accurate." With God on our Side, indeed. #HATM
Amazing how every single British soldier died from one shot. #HATM
The kids looking on horrified (and impressed) at blood stained Mel is the mirror image of the scene where they chuckle at him breaking the chair. #HATM
Mel "the savage" makes me think of Alan Taylor's Liberty Men and Great Proprietors. Part of the long history of white people "playing Indian." #HATM
This is basically "Death Wish" and "Dirty Harry," set in the era of the American Revolution. #HATM
War. What is good for. Absolutely nothing. Say it again. #HATM
I dunno, Frenchie over there seems a little dubious if you ask me...but somehow I suspect he'll redeem himself. #HATM
Those damn, land grabbing British soldiers! Good thing patriot leaders never did such a thing. #HATM https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/articles-and-essays/george-washington-survey-and-mapmaker/washington-as-land-speculator/
As Heath enters the church, I'm getting ready for this excellent scene. #HATM
Ah, the young lady's peer pressure inspires all of the manly men to sign up to fight for the patriot cause. But don't forget, NONE OF THEM WOULD BE CAUGHT DEAD WEARING A MASK IN A PANDEMIC BECAUSE FREEDOM!!! #HATM
Oh dear. I'd forgotten about the "do I have permission to write/ride Ann" moment. Cringe. #HATM
Frenchie is suspicious of the rabble he sees around him. Mel shows him that they are in a pro-America part of America. #HATM
And now with the tavern scene this turns into Freedom Writers. Wouldn't be a Hollywood flick without a little white savior action. #HATM
Melting down his kid's lead soldier into a bullet is a nice touch, must admit. Reminiscent of this actual event. https://www.amrevmuseum.org/press-room/press-releases/%E2%80%9Cmelted-majesty%E2%80%9D-musket-ball-discovered-monmouth-battlefield-be-displayed
The found Lord Cornwallis's My Space page! #HATM
"If we win this war, things will change. We'll have a chance to build a new world where all men are created equal under God." --Heath Ledger
So subtle.
#HATM
So subtle.
#HATM
True fact, all British people were snobbish pricks and all Americans believed in equality, except for a few ignorant ones who just needed to be properly educated by the good ones like Heath, and also the Mel's inferiors who loved and obeyed him. #HATM
This film replicates the false narrative that poor white people were the "real racists" in the 18th century, and it was enlightened wealthy people like Mel and Heath who were the kind and tolerant ones. Gag. #HATM
To be clear, not that poor whites didn't also participate in and benefit from white supremacy...but pinning all racism on poor whites obscures the historical realities of who materially benefited most from slavery. #HATM
I'm no firearms expert, but Tarleton hoisting his 18th century pistol and killing someone 100 yards away riding on a horse is a little...much, no? #HATM
What happens at Fort Wilderness stays at Fort Wilderness. #HATM
There will be time for revenge against the British. Like in the future when they make a film called Austin Powers that totally skewers 'em, baybee! #HATM
Even dogs like Mel more than snooty old Cornwallis. Nature says, "Go America!" #HATM
Well, if they called Mel "a cheeky fellow" then that settles it! #HATM
"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Prepare to die." #HATM
Love it when Mel punks Cornwallis with the fake officer exchange! Those plucky Americans! #HATM
Tavington thinks he's so clever but Mel's boy's got the swamp fighter gene! #HATM
"I hate him and I hope he never comes back." Susan speaks for all of us. #HATM
Ok, this scene with the maroon community is just, it's just, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! #HATM
It's the 1770s in South Carolina. You live in a maroon community of people of African descent. A group of white people show up and you're response is "hey, folks, great to see you! Want some food?" Uh huh. #HATM
Another reference to his kids being "from good stock." I know it was offered semi-jokingly...but seriously. #HATM
The idea that the place of emotional refuge and safety for Mel and his family is a freaking maroon community is just so offensive. And then to have those maroons attend the white wedding with joy, and without shirts on? Gah!!!! #HATM
And now we get white people dancing to that world music CD that Mel bought in the Vienna airport on his way back from one of those, you know, meetings. #HATM
What this movie really needed was a lot more side eye. #HATM
I'm starting to get the sense that this film is about, and hear me out now, whiteness and masculinity. Call me crazy. But I stand by it! #HATM
Even Frenchie is down for the fight! #HATM
Ok, this is the church burning scene that never actually happened in the American Revolution but did happen in WWII, and the Nazis did it. #HATM
Church burning Brits. Man, this is just pushing all of the right wing evangelical buttons, isn't it. #HATM
The church burning is scene is devastating, but Heath's delivery of the line "they're not here," made me LOL it was so bad. #HATM
You think you can kill Tavington when he has his sexy hair down like that? Think again puny colonials! #HATM
I love the long scenes where the guys are loading their guns and staring at each other while they do it, eyeing each other up with the "just wait till I get this powder packed motherf*cker" look. #HATM
This is the scene where Mel turns into the Hulk, right? #HATM
Mel showing up to the anti-lockdown rally without a mask on. #hatm
Frenchie likes to be well-dressed, it should go without saying. #HATM
This "I love you man" scene between the formerly racist white guy and the black soldier is...again...just so incredibly subtle. #HATM
Somethin' tells me that Tavington's hubris is gonna come back to bite him in the butt. Wow, how did I call that? #HATM
