Stone of Destiny (2008)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Ian Hamilton (book)
Charles Martin Smith (writer)

Release Date:

19 December 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A heist 600 years in the making

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.

Plot Keywords:

Stone | 1950s | Scotland | Student | Bar

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Charlie Cox	...	Ian Hamilton
Kate Mara	...	Kay Matheson
Billy Boyd	...	Bill Craig
Robert Carlyle	...	John MacCormick
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
Juliet Cadzow	...	Ian's mother
Alan Cuthbertson	...	Police Officer CID
Ron Donachie	...	Nightwatchman Murphy
Adrienne Fraser	...	1950's Student
Brenda Fricker	...	Mrs. McQuarry
Mark Harvey	...	Cheering Student
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:

USA:PG | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, UK

Company:

Infinity Features Entertainment

Trivia:

Cameo: [Ian Hamilton]sour-faced English businessman who passes Ian Hamilton and Gavin Vernon as they get out of the car shortly before their first attempt to remove the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey (36 minutes).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Kay Mathieson took no further part in the operation after taking the smaller portion of the stone to Birmingham, yet she is seen as part of the group bringing the Stone back over the border as well as taking it to Arbroath Abbey.

Quotes:

Ian Hamilton: [Worried about their previous encounter with the police] They've got our names.
Gavin Vernon: They've also got our stone!

Soundtrack:

Wild Mountain Thyme

Emotional and moving

This film is about a group of students who are passionate about their native Scotland, plotting the ultimate heist to awaken nationalism of their homeland.

I am pleasantly surprised by "Stone of Destiny". The plot is great, it engages me throughout. The pacing is great, and there is tasteful comedy to balance the thrill. The characters, especially the leader Ian Hamilton, are well sculpted that viewers identify with him easily. I can feel his passion and his burning desire to do something for Scotland, and I am moved by that. The ending is satisfying and emotional, I am still touched by the profound emotions conveyed by the film.