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Centurion

United Kingdom, France

2010

97 Min
Color
2.35:1
English
  • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.
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DIR Neil Marshall

PROD Christian Colson, Robert Jones

SCR Neil Marshall

DP Sam McCurdy

CAST Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko, Noel Clarke, David Morrissey, JJ Feild, Axelle Carolyn, Riz Ahmed, Dave Legeno, Ulrich Thomsen

ED Chris Gill

PROD DES Simon Bowles

MUSIC Ilan Eshkeri

Synopsis

AD 117. The Roman Empire stretches from Egypt to Spain, and East as far as the Black Sea. But in northern Britain, the relentless onslaught of conquest has ground to a halt in face of the guerrilla tactics of an elusive enemy: the savage and terrifying Picts. Quintus Dias (Fassbender), sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Virilus’ (West) legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the earth and destroy their leader Gorlacon. But when the legion is ambushed on unfamiliar ground, and Virilus taken captive, Quintus faces a desperate struggle to keep his small platoon alive behind enemy lines. Enduring the harsh terrain and evading their remorseless Pict pursuers led by revenge-hungry Pict Warrior Etain (Kurylenko), the band of soldiers race to rescue their General and to reach the safety of the Roman frontier. –IMDb

Director

Original

Neil Marshall

Neil Marshall (born 25 May 1970) is an English film director and screenwriter. Marshall began his career in editing and in 2002 directed his first feature film Dog Soldiers, which became a cult film. He followed up with the critically acclaimed horror film The Descent in 2005. Marshall also directed Doomsday in 2008, and wrote and directed Centurion in 2010.

Marshall was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He was first inspired to become a film director when he saw Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) at the age of eleven. He began making home movies using Super 8 mm film, and in 1989, he attended film school at Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University). In the next eight years, he worked as a freelance editor. In 1995, he was hired to co-write and edit for director Bharat Nalluri’s first film, Killing Time. Marshall continued to write and develop his own projects, directing his first film in 2002, Dog Soldiers, a horror film that became a cult film in the United Kingdom… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 25 wall posts.
Picture of Rina

Rina

21May13

Admittedly, this film features a ridiculous display of bloodshed as well as a rather unspectecular story arc. I still had a good time watching it, tough. Lovely visuals, that special atmosphere that comes with period films, Fassbender in the lead and a shamefully underused Feild as support turn this one into solid entertainment. I also enjoyed the underlying commentary on the futility of war.

Picture of Chris Barclay

Chris Barclay

3Jan13

Fassbender gives the performance of a lifetime

Picture of DocNYz

DocNYz

27Sep12

Not a single shot, thought, tone, technique, filter, or scene of this would exist without Gladiator. A good DP and decent editor do not make up for terrible writing, mediocre directing and complete and utter lack of any semblance of originality, interest, passion or story. The score is an utterly laughable juvenile mockery of Zimmer's work a decade prior. For quality in this genre look to Scott, Refn, or Herzog.

Picture of Cbarky99

Cbarky99

13Aug12

Comedy of errors, played dead serious, about a humourless career soldier type (Fassbender) who makes a promise to a dying man who did him a good turn, and then proceeds to screw it up. Fassbender's a good actor, but he doesn't get to show off his performing skills in this one so much as he shows off his running skills. (He is good at running, mind you).

Related Films

Fans

Displaying 5 of 100 fans.

Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

"The Milk of Sorrow," "Mesrine," "Centurion," More

By David Hudson on August 27, 2010

Let's begin this weekly roundup of critical voices on theatrical releases with The Milk of Sorrow, winner of the Berlinale's Golden Bear in

read article
W184

Marshall's Women and Men

By Ignatiy Vishnevetsky on August 27, 2010

Neil Marshall's men are numerous and largely interchangeable—grizzled genre types vaguely sketched, owing a lot to Hawks-by-way-of-Carpenter

read article
W184

Toronto After Dark, Noir City: Chicago 2 and More Local Scenes

By David Hudson on August 13, 2010

"The tail-end of summer is an exciting period for Toronto's cult-cinema crowd," writes Neil Karassik in Eye Weekly. "With TIFF

read article

TADFF 10: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[The first film playing on a UK double-bill at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival tonite, I suppose it is time to revisit my review.  Note there are other takes on the film below in the links.]Michael
read on Twitchfilm.com

CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
After the overblown homage of Doomsday, there’s really only one question at stake here – has Neil Marshall got his genre movie mojo back? The not so simple answer is “sort of”. Once the brightest star
read on Twitchfilm.com

Fantasia 2010: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[Oh, Neil Marshall, we love you so.  Since Centurion is playing the big Hall Theatre today at the Fantasia Film Festival, it is apropos to bring up Todd’s thoughts on the film from our archives.]Put aside
read on Twitchfilm.com

Imagine 2010: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Neil Marshall has built a name for himself by making films about people invading someone else’s territory and getting their “arses” thoroughly kicked. In “Dog Soldiers” it was elite troops versus Scottish
read on Twitchfilm.com

Action Fest 2010: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Put aside any thoughts of typical costume epics here. Neil Marshall’s Centurion will stomach none of that Gladiator talk. A world away from your typical ancient Rome film, this is lean and hungry stuff
read on Twitchfilm.com

CENTURION Brings Blood And BluRays!

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
In honor of Neil Marshall’s Centurion taking a bow on VOD, XBOX, Playstation, VUDU and Amazon the fine folk at Magnet Releasing are offering up a BluRay prize pack of their other fine releases to one lucky
read on Twitchfilm.com

Fresh Clip From Neil Marshall's CENTURION!

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
With the world premiere of Neil Marshall’s period-set actioner Centurion coming in just a few weeks at the inaugural Action Fest, a fresh clip from the picture has just arrived online.  And yes, it is
read on Twitchfilm.com

The Green Band Trailer For Marshall's CENTURION Is No Less Intense Than The Red-Bander.

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Need a demonstration that intensity on film doesn’t just come from blood? Take a look at the Red-Band trailer for Neil Marshall’s Centurion. Pretty damn good. Now take a look at the brand new Green Band
read on Twitchfilm.com

Neil Marshall's CENTURION Goes Red-Band.

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Full marks to the marketing lads at Magnet Releasing. The job they just did on the new Red-Band trailer for Neil Marshall’s Centurion is positively smoking. It may not be the bloodiest red-bander I have
read on Twitchfilm.com

Neil Marshall's Centurion trailer.

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
I must confess that I was a little let down by Marshall’s Doomsday after the genius that was The Descent. Something about the film just didn’t quite work for me.His follow up is another hack and slash
read on Twitchfilm.com

FanTasia 2010: Centurion

By Twitchfilm.net on August 18, 2010
[It’s the first film playing on tonight’s bill at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. Time to revisit my review, as well as others listed below in the links.]Michael Fassbender is Centurion Quintus Dius
read on Twitchfilm.net

CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.net on August 14, 2010
After the overblown homage of Doomsday, there’s really only one question at stake here – has Neil Marshall got his genre movie mojo back? The not so simple answer is “sort of”. Once the brightest star
read on Twitchfilm.net

CENTURION Brings Blood And BluRays!

By Twitchfilm.net on August 9, 2010
In honor of Neil Marshall’s Centurion taking a bow on VOD, XBOX, Playstation, VUDU and Amazon the fine folk at Magnet Releasing are offering up a BluRay prize pack of their other fine releases to one lucky
read on Twitchfilm.net

FanTasia 2010: Centurion

By Twitchfilm.net on July 27, 2010
Michael Fassbender is Centurion Quintus Dius. He is in charge of the legion that the northern most part of the rule of the Roman Empire. One night the garrison is attacked by an army of Picts, the local
read on Twitchfilm.net

Fantasia 2010: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.net on July 24, 2010
[Oh, Neil Marshall, we love you so.  Since Centurion is playing the big Hall Theatre today at the Fantasia Film Festival, it is apropos to bring up Todd’s thoughts on the film from our archives.]Put aside
read on Twitchfilm.net

The Green Band Trailer For Marshall's CENTURION Is No Less Intense Than The Red-Bander.

By Twitchfilm.net on July 13, 2010
Need a demonstration that intensity on film doesn’t just come from blood? Take a look at the Red-Band trailer for Neil Marshall’s Centurion. Pretty damn good. Now take a look at the brand new Green Band
read on Twitchfilm.net

Neil Marshall's Centurion trailer.

By Twitchfilm.net on June 29, 2010
I must confess that I was a little let down by Marshall’s Doomsday after the genius that was The Descent. Something about the film just didn’t quite work for me.His follow up is another hack and slash
read on Twitchfilm.net

Fresh Clip From Neil Marshall's CENTURION!

By Twitchfilm.net on June 29, 2010
With the world premiere of Neil Marshall’s period-set actioner Centurion coming in just a few weeks at the inaugural Action Fest, a fresh clip from the picture has just arrived online.  And yes, it is
read on Twitchfilm.net

Action Fest 2010: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.net on June 29, 2010
Put aside any thoughts of typical costume epics here. Neil Marshall’s Centurion will stomach none of that Gladiator talk. A world away from your typical ancient Rome film, this is lean and hungry stuff
read on Twitchfilm.net

Neil Marshall's CENTURION Goes Red-Band.

By Twitchfilm.net on June 29, 2010
Full marks to the marketing lads at Magnet Releasing. The job they just did on the new Red-Band trailer for Neil Marshall’s Centurion is positively smoking. It may not be the bloodiest red-bander I have
read on Twitchfilm.net

Imagine 2010: CENTURION Review

By Twitchfilm.net on June 29, 2010
Neil Marshall has built a name for himself by making films about people invading someone else’s territory and getting their “arses” thoroughly kicked. In “Dog Soldiers” it was elite troops versus Scottish
read on Twitchfilm.net

Lists

Displaying 5 of 65 lists.

Reviews

Displaying 4 of 4

Ambitious but not quite

By Henrik Schunk on January 17, 2012

Neil Marshall’s ambitious movie is heavily flawed and unpolished. The ambition of the project is its greatest downfall, instead of catering the movie towards the budget (as in Dog Soldiers), Marshall…  read review

“A man without his word is no better than a beast”

By jaredmo​barak on August 24, 2010

Writer/director Neil Marshall has style and hopefully will continue to bring it forth on cinema screens for years to come, if he decides to travel back to America or not. Many lesser auteurs would…  read review

Marshall strikes once again.

By Valu200​9 on August 19, 2010

Well, I liked it. Maybe it’s because it’s what I was expecting, an historical tale filled with bloody action – but not too much, and I’m ok with it – capable to keep you nailed to the sofa, or chair…  read review

Centurion, Cardiff Vue cinema, 1505, 27th April 2010.

By Carim James on April 27, 2010

The film began during an afternoon of which I had very little to do, I found it interesting to see people arrive at the cinema screen 10 as early as possible, but it was not full, I’ll say that much…  read review

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