By Neland Nobel

Written by Neland Nobel

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Angel Studios has released a biopic on the early years of George Washington.  A formative time for a man who would become quite important to America and the world.

The New York Times says, “The most bracing thing about “Young Washington” is its commitment to old-fashioned stodginess.”

The L.A. Times says, ” Young Washington’ is the dullest of history lessons.”

When I read that, I wondered if we had even seen the same movie.  Don’t believe it.  It is just their commitment to old-fashioned anti-Americanism. I will be guarded here; both reviews are steaming piles of bovine excrement.

The movie is quite accurate historically, although I spotted two liberties taken by the screenwriters.

Washington’s sidekick for his frontier adventures in the Ohio territory was a Daniel Boone character, Christopher Gist. They have him being killed off at Fort Necessity, giving Washington’s defeat there added personal poignancy. But Gist lived for about another five years and likely died of smallpox.

They have brother Lawrence around during the disaster of July 3, 1754, but in fact, he died of TB two years earlier.

But these are minor imperfections, likely used to shorten and smooth the timeline of events.

The major events are very correct; the wardrobe and action sequences are excellent, especially given it is a small-budget movie. You can see the complexity of Washington’s formation, and, lest we forget, he was a man of action.  He had musket balls go through his coat and his hat; he had horses shot out from under him. He had to lead men to their death.  He was a strong, huge man for his era.

Yet, he was a great dancer, liked to play rounders (early baseball), and wrote a book about manners when he was a young man. He read the classics, and was an exceptional horseman. He is about as different a material for President as you can think of, at least in today’s context.

Critics don’t like the God talk in the movie.  They simply show their ignorance.  Washington escaped from so many improbable circumstances untouched that contemporaries spoke of divine providence, as did Washington himself.  There was no other plausible explanation. Just because they are cynics does not mean they are allowed to rewrite history.

With just about all the British officers killed in the Battle of Monongahela, he managed a defensive retreat that saved what was left of the British Army and the Virginia Militia. Everyone at the time spoke of his courage and leadership, hard qualities to find in such a young man, or any man. Press reports made it all the way to England.

I was fortunate enough to spend my childhood just down Chestnut Ridge from Jumonville Glenn, where Washington likely started the French and Indian War (The Seven Years’ War in Europe) after losing control of his native allies. I got to spend many afternoons in the area around Braddock’s Grave, his road, and Fort Necessity.

Personal attachment aside, the movie is simply good cinema.  It is entertaining first and educational second.

The story is accurate for the most part; the battle scenes are excellent and authentic; the production quality is high; and it is about time we had some decent movies about American heroes.  Kelsey Grammer and Ben Kingsley are excellent journeyman actors, but the young Washington, portrayed by a young British actor, is very believable.

So far, it has raked in more than $20 million in just a few days, and it earns a 92% Popcorn score, Rotten Tomatoes’ official audience score.

Take the family to see it, especially if you have some young boys.  They need to see some real heroes, and so do you.  And, you have an obligation to support movies like this and those who have the courage to break ranks with Hollywood.

-Neland Nobel

Neland ‘Neil’ Nobel was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and moved to Arizona in 1961. He attended ASU and earned a B.A. and an M.A. in history, with a specialty in economic and military history.  He graduated Summa Cum Laude and received a Richard M. Weaver Fellowship from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.  He spent the next 45 years in the financial services industry, ending his career with a 25-year run with UBS as a portfolio manager and Certified Financial Planner. In retirement, he remains active, having founded the Prickly Pear in 2020 and continuing to contribute content.  In his spare time, he is a certified firearms instructor and runs a hiking club and two shooting clubs.  He is married with three children and three grandchildren. 

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