Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Stone of Destiny (2008)

Director: Charles Martin Smith

Time Out rating

Average user rating

1 review

Movie review

From Time Out London

The eponymous rock is no more than a heavy lump of sandstone but to the Scots it represents a symbol of their independence. On Christmas morning, 1950, four otherwise law-abiding Scottish students, led by Charlie Cox’s lawyer Hamilton, broke into Westminster Abbey, removed the stone and drove it northwards, to popular acclaim at home. Written and directed by an American, the film nevertheless feels closer to the ‘British’ spirit of the old Ealing comedies, something emphasised by its old-fashioned ambience and its charming evocation of the period. The break-in itself is tautly, comically mounted, though the accuracy of its portrayal is open to debate. As a slice of recent history, this is heartwarming and enjoyable but too conventional and small scale.

Author: Derek Adams

Time Out London Issue 1999, Dec 11 - 17, 2008

Email Tweet Share

User reviews of this film

True Brit - Love Scots said...

Posted on Dec 17 2010 01:29 Despite the negative and belittling comments by "professional" reviewers, this film siirs the heart of many a Yank with both ancient British and Scottish heritage and active gene pool. The drama was courageous and left us with shivers and hairs standing up on our arms, in admiration, and slight tears of joy celebrating the amazing symbolic feat of the characters led by student Ian Hamilton.
The film is masterfully produced, and while set in 1950, it skillfully avoided the unwarranted inclusion of the trappings of the "mid-century" era it historically occurred in. This story could be anytime, anywhere that self-determination and patriotism reigns and rises up against tyranny -- no matter how "benevolent" the tyranny, it remains that any political entity bearing power over another people must be cast down.
All power to the film's producers and the writer. Ten stars out of ten, would we could award 100's of astral projections to this work!

Report as inappropriate