'The Green Knight' Review
R: Violence, some sexuality, and graphic nudity
Runtime: 2 Hrs and 6 Minutes
Production Companies: Ley Line Entertainment, Bron Studios, Sailor Bear
Distributor: A24
Director: David Lowery
Writer: David Lowery
Cast: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan, Ralph Ineson
Release Date: July 30, 2021
Theaters Only
An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger, and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger.
When director David Lowery puts his stamp on a project, you know it will be something of quality and passion. Whether it be his own spin on a Disney classic or a book adaptation, he pours his entire heart and soul into the project through his storytelling and visionary lens, and Lowery’s The Green Knight has him taking his abilities to the next level. Translating a series of poems into a feature-length film is as difficult as adapting a picture book into a feature film. Lowery has once again crafted a passionate and artful film that is a visual feast to behold.
As much as I try to avoid using the “m” word, from the opening frame to its final shot, The Green Knight is a visual masterpiece. As someone who is not into Arthurian films, this is a breath of fresh air, for it’s one breathtaking set-piece after the next that never lets up. Lowery has poured blood, sweat, and tears into carving out Sir Gawain’s tale into an epic, poetic movie. Through his direction, Lowery attempts to capture the same essence as the source itself through action and visuals more so than dialogue, and for the most part, it’s hella effective. With VFX work done by Weta Digital, which did a fantastic job bringing Lowery’s vision to life, each set piece that Gawain treks through has its own distinctive flair in color, lighting, and mood.
The art direction and production design are immaculate where the more time you spend with Gawain on his quest, the more you admire how mapped out the worldbuilding is. No scene or location steps on another’s toe in imagery or tone. I know the industry’s 3D craze is gone but this would’ve made for a breathtaking 3D or even IMAX experience. The slick and immersive camera movement and shot composition, which plays with the isolated landscape and scale of his surroundings, deliver the same atmosphere as an open-world video game. You’re in the passenger seat for Sir Gawain’s open-world adventure.
Put Dev Patel in every period piece that you can because he will slay the role. Patel does a magnificent job as Sir Gawain. Since the story has him facing the choice of sacrificing his own life by being beheaded, his performance walks a balanced line between strength and fear. There’s uncertainty within himself and his life, which is on a ticking time clock, and Patel expertly projects that energy throughout. There are great supporting cast members who steal the spotlight ever so often. Barry Keoghan has an incredible sequence where he chews up the scenery with so much energy and though his screen time is limited, he makes the most out of it. Alicia Vikander as Gawain’s lady Essel is engaging to watch, especially when she appears during the latter half of the film. Erin Kellyman, who is everywhere these days, has such a standout supernatural sequence that involves some good humor. Ralph Ineson is noticeably incredible as The Green Knight. Ineson has such a booming voice that is both intimidating and relaxing that you can’t help but love.
The film is a slow-burner and because of that, it’s quiet and ambient with more emphasis on the journey itself rather than action or violence, but it leaves much to be desired. There are ample wide shots of Sir Gawain traveling through this mystical world and you’re stunned by the beauty of the art direction, even if there’s not much occurring thematically. It gave me the same vibes as Genndy Tartakovsky’s adult series, such as Primal and Samurai Jack, which have a quiet ambiance set in a violent and unforgiving world. For the most part, you’re just vibing with the incredible color keys and art direction that are seriously unlike anything you’ve seen before. Tartakovsky emphasizes quiet storytelling where the visual motifs and actions of the characters tell the story, all aligned with its own unique art direction to match the mood that’s being projected on the screen. Much like the leads of a Tartakovsky series, Sir Gawain is not a man of many words and he’s more reactionary to this foreign world he’s exploring. The major difference is that Tartakovsky throws feats of action throughout while introducing threats to test his characters’ survival skills. Gawain just does simple tasks for the various figures he encounters. Most of the second act is him venturing out and trying his best to survive perilous obstacles and supernatural figures. If you’re expecting sequences of Arthurian action, prepare to be very disappointed because what you get is simply a “point A to point B” quest, much like the structure of an animated movie.
While the supporting characters are very much intended to be part of Gawain’s development, the film is so oddly paced that his quest for courage and his mortality leaves out the “courage” part. It’s not really emphasized until much later on. For the most part, it’s like a long walkthrough of the most beautiful video game you’re not even playing. It’s more episodic than thematic in its storytelling, which is kind of frustrating. It has such a calming atmosphere that it’s difficult to not doze off for a bit. Because everything is so monotonous in dialogue while Gawain is out in the wild, the story becomes rather dull and the only thing piquing your interest are the endless gorgeous set pieces and the masterful camera movement.
While I enjoyed The Green Knight for its visual flair and Lowery’s passionate direction, I wish it had a bit more “oomph” in substance in order to make the film as amazing as it looks. It’s more style than substance and since they’re working off a series of poems, I can easily forgive its flaws but its exhausting runtime and slow pacing made ample moments feel more episodic than the hyped-up epic it was intended to be.
