Stone of Destiny (2008)

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writer:

Charles Martin Smith (writer)

Release Date:

2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Plot:

The story of Ian Hamilton, a dedicated nationalist who reignited Scottish national pride in the 1950s with his daring raid on the heart of England to bring the Stone of Scone back to Scotland.

Cast

Charlie Cox	...	Ian Hamilton
Kate Mara
Billy Boyd	...	Bill Craig
Ciaron Kelly	...	Alan Stuart
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rab Affleck	...	Old Gypsy
Gillian Aitken	...	1950's Student
Janine Ballantyne	...	1950's Student
Ross Bennie	...	1950's Student
Robert Carlyle	...	John MacCormick
Alan Cuthbertson	...	Police Officer CID
Ron Donachie	...	Nightwatchman Murphy
Brenda Fricker
Pauline King	...	Jen
Bryan Lowe	...	Brian / Obnoxious Student
Stephen McCole	...	Gavin Vernon
Ashley McFarlane	...	Gavin's Girl 1
Iain McGregor	...	Abbey Worker
Johnny Meres	...	Detective Simpkins
Peter Mullan	...	Ian's dad
Rod Scott	...	Policeman
Adam Smith	...	Tourist

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and some incidental smoking.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, UK

Company:

Infinity Features Entertainment

Soundtrack:

Wild Mountain Thyme

A gem of a feel-good movie, and that's coming from an Englishman!!!

Since around the 9th century, tradition holds that Scottish monarchs took their place upon the Stone of Scone during their coronation ceremony, until 1296 when it was captured by Edward I and placed in Westminster Abbey under a seat upon which English sovereigns were crowned, thereby showing the English power over the Scots. "Stone of Destiny" tells the true story of Ian Hamilton, a young student and nationalist, who was to attempt to return the Stone to its rightful place in Scotland and thereby right a long-standing injustice by the English.

The cast is strong and features the likes of Robert Carlyle, Brenda Fricker and Billy Boyd (that "fool of a Took"). However, Charlie Cox once again caught my attention following his leading role in Stardust. Given he is not a native Scot, he makes a great effort at the accent, and again manages to portray his character with a great balance of likability, determination and youthful exuberance, and gives us hope that some of the next generation's leading men can combine acting and looking good... Director Charles Martin Smith does wonderfully in conveying the underdog theme brilliantly with a good balance of action, comedy and emotion. It's a definite feel-good movie, with the people around me clapping at the end. 5 stars, a British gem.