Mel Gibson: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances...

5. William Wallace - Braveheart (1995)

For what was only his second directorial effort, Mel Gibson certainly chose an ambitious project. A violent $72m historical epic about the First War of Scottish Independence, the actor/director's gamble paid off handsomely as Braveheart went on to earn $210.9m at the box office and win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. While the movie is often shockingly historically inaccurate and Gibson's accent is hardly convincing, he nonetheless gives a towering performance as William Wallace. Gibson didn't even want to play the role originally, believing he was too old, but as an A-list movie star his name above the title would secure the requisite funding from the studio. His decision to step in front of the camera turned out to be the right one, as the actor's blend of charisma and intensity makes him completely convincing as a man that could inspire an army. Gibson throws his all into the role, and is as adept in the smaller dramatic moments as the rousing speeches, not to mention proving to be handy with a broadsword in the movie's numerous crunching battle sequences.