Young Washington

I went back and forth about seeing Young Washington (for reasons) but I ultimately decided that I wanted to and did so last night.  I actually really liked it!  Eleven-year-old George Washington (Will Joseph) is forced to withdraw from school to work on the farm after the death of his father but his older half-brother Lawrence Washington (John Foss), a commissioned officer in the British Army, encourages him to continue learning and improving himself on his own.  Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) grows up to be incredibly ambitious but becomes a surveyor after he is refused a royal commission due to his lowly colonial background.  Eager to impress Lord Fairfax (Kelsey Grammer), and the young noblewoman (Mia Rodgers) betrothed to his son, he volunteers to survey the Ohio territory adjoining his land with his friend Christopher Gist (Leo Hanna) and, during their expedition, they discover that French forces are building a fort on land claimed by the Crown.  He reports this information to Virginia Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddle (Ben Kingsley) who appoints him a Major in the Virginia Militia and sends him to deliver a message to Joseph Jumonville (Clement Toyon) ordering him to leave.  Washington forms an alliance with a group of Seneca led by Tanacharison (Ryan Begay) after Jumonville refuses to leave but they open fire which precipitates the French and Indian War.  Washington hastily builds the stockade known as Fort Necessity in an area open to attack and is eventually forced to surrender to the French after a bloody battle which kills Gist.  Washington is demoralized and resigns his commission but his mother Mary (Mary-Louise Parker) convinces him to stay the course and he volunteers to act as aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock (Andy Serkis).  He attempts to convince Braddock to abandon the traditional British battle formations based on his experience at Necessity but he is rebuffed and their forces are ambushed during the Battle of Monogahela.  He ultimately forms a rear guard using his own battle tactics to save the men from Virginia and this brings him great acclaim.  The narrative leans into the idea that Washington was successful because of divine providence and, while there is a scene in which the Seneca tell him that he was protected by the Creator's Spirit in battle, it is definitely not as heavy-handed as I feared it would be.  In fact, much of the criticism that I had read beforehand about belabored metaphors is very much exaggerated.  I really enjoyed Washington's character arc as a inexperienced soldier who learns from his mistakes and an ambitious leader who develops humility.  The cast is outstanding and Franklyn-Miller, especially, gives a compelling performance, particularly during the heartbreaking surrender of Fort Necessity.  I was also very captivated by Begay because he reminded me so much of Graham Greene (one of my favorite actors).  The battle sequences are exhilarating and the locations and production design are stunning.  I found this very entertaining and I encourage you to ignore the criticism and decide for yourself!