The confrontation between Jason Isaacs' William Tavington and Mel Gibson’s Benjamin Martin was a crucial scene inThe Patriot, but it was almost entirely different. WhileThe Patriotis far from a true story, the 2000 Revolutionary War movie saw Benjamin as a rebel, waging war against Tavington after the British officer killed his son. Benjamin quickly joins the Continental Army, which prompts Tavington to confront him during a prisoner exchange. The movie was later nominated for three Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound.
In an interview withCollider, Isaacs explained that the original script forThe Patriotcalled for a different confrontation. Originally, Tavington would have shied away from Benjamin, after facing threats from the Continental soldier, but Isaacs believed that it would have undermined his character. He approached director Roland Emmerich, and the two agreed tochange Tavington’s lines without consulting Gibson. While Gibson initially “looked absolutely furious,” he later expressed that “it was electric.” Check out Isaacs' quote below:
I remember there was a bit in the middle of the film where we meet face to face. He comes and gets his son back, and as scripted, he steps up to me and says, ‘Before this war is over, I’m going to kill you.’ In the script, it said, ‘For the first time, you see Tavington scared. He steps back.’ But I went to Roland, and I went, ‘Why am I doing that? Why am I scared?’The film is over if the villain is scared at that point.The whole film’s over. And he goes, ‘Okay, do something else.’ I go, ‘Should I tell Mel?’ He goes, ‘No, no, no.’
So Mel steps up to me, and he goes, ‘Before this war’s over, I’m going to kill you.’ I took my sword out, I turned it around, I offered him the handle, and I said, ‘Why wait?’ He looked absolutely furious. Mel’s eyes went electric. I thought, ‘I’ve really crossed a line here. It’s a terrible mistake.I better grovel.’ He just looked around. I thought he looked over at Roland at the camera, but he looked all around, and he said, ‘Soon.’ And he walked off, and Roland called cut. I ran up to Mel, and I said, ‘Look, I’m really sorry. I wanted to do something, but I didn’t want to tell you.’ He grabbed me, and he went, ‘I f*cking loved it! It was electric, man.’ Becausehe’s a proper actor. So, it was a great part, and I didn’t do any of the villains after, which my bank account would have been far fatter for. But I went off and played a drag queen and did a couple of plays because they don’t come like that very often.
What The Patriot’s Changes Meant For Its Legacy
That Scene Is One Of The Patriot’s Best
Isaacs' decision to change the scene helped to ensure that Tavington would remain a viable threat throughout the entire movie.The final scene culminated in his cathartic death, so undermining the character would only make the ending unsatisfying. By ensuring that Tavington never flinched from Benjamin in this early scene, Isaacs ensured that he could remain appropriately intimidating. His cunning, sadism, and willingness to risk his life for the loyalist cause ensured that the villainous Tavington was one ofJason Isaacs' best roles, and this scene cemented that.
The Patriotearned $215 million at the box office on a $100 million budget.
Isaacs also ensured thatThe Patriot’s confrontation was suitably believable. By surprising Gibson,he gave his fellow actor little time to adjustto the improvised line, which enabled him to have a more realistic reaction. Just as Benjamin would understandably pause to react to Tavington’s unexpected reaction, Gibson was able to infuse his real-world reaction into his character.Gibson is already a renowned directorand actor, but blurring the lines between the character and the actor made Benjamin even more believable.
Our Take On The Patriot’s Surprising Change
The Improvisation Is Impressive
Improvisation does not always work in Hollywood, but this change was necessary. Benjamin suffers immensely inThe Patriot;however, he wins nearly every major confrontation. If Tavington retreated in fear, then Benjamin would never have a true rival, and the movie would lose any semblance of stakes. The immediate “electric” reaction from Gibson was proof that the Tavington line made his character more compelling, making it an absolute necessity.The Patriotneeded Isaacs' change, and he was the perfect actor for the role.
The Patriot
Cast
This historical drama follows Benjamin Martin, a widowed farmer and veteran of the French and Indian War, who is reluctantly drawn into the American Revolutionary War when his family is threatened. The film explores themes of vengeance and redemption as Martin leads a makeshift militia while striving to protect his children.
