The film is regarded as entertaining and well-directed, with a strong sense of good and evil. Historians point out many inaccuracies within the film, and many oppose it as a distorted portrayal of the events the film purported to represent. However, the film never pretended to be historically accurate but was an attempt to loosely depict Wallace's deeds, bravery, and the socio-economic conditions at the time. For a historical treatment of events see the William Wallace entry.
The film won numerous awards including the 1995 Academy Award for: