Global Storming

The Patriot is a 2000 American epic historical war film directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Robert Rodat. The film stars Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, and Tom Wilkinson. Set in Berkeley County, South Carolina, it follows Benjamin Martin (Gibson), an American colonist who is opposed to going to war with Great Britain but, along with his son Gabriel (Ledger), gets swept into the American Revolutionary War when his home life is disrupted, and one of his sons is murdered by a cruel British officer (Isaacs). The film had its world premiere in Century City on June 27, 2000, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30, 2000, by Sony Pictures Releasing. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and grossed $215 million against a $110 million budget, and was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. The Patriot generated significant controversy due to its historical inaccuracies, in particular its fictionalized portrayal of British figures and atrocities. The portrayal of the protagonist, a composite character based on several persons including Francis Marion, was also criticized for whitewashing the real figures' own wartime conduct.