A KNIGHT'S TALE (2001) 2 stars out of 4. Starring Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Alan Tudyk and Laura Fraser. Music by Carter Burwell. Written, produced and directed by Brian Helgeland. PG-13.
You are immediately jarred at the outset of A Knightís Tale when a contestant in a jousting tournament rides onto the field, the soundtrack begins blaring ìWe Will Rock Youî and the audience claps along to the beat. What the heck is going on? Perhaps the filmís writer-producer-director, Brian Helgeland (an Oscar-winner for his L.A. Confidential script), can explain: ìWe wanted to create a period piece that stayed fair to the period but felt contemporary. ... For a movie to work, the audience has to be invited in. They can get pushed away if overwhelmed by period costumes, obscure speech and antique music. ... Our goal was to create a seamless bridge between then and now.î
Nice sentiments, noble proposal. Unfortunately, the concept for A Knightís Tale is more distracting than beneficial.
The movieís central plot is about jousting, painted by Helgeland as sort of the XFL of the middle ages. Knights would travel from tournament to tournament, battling each other for prizes and glory; standings were kept; peasants would paint themselves in the colors of their favorite knights; heralds would introduce their knights, in a manner reminiscent of Vince McMahon revving up the crowd at a WWF match; and their would be a tournament of tournament at which the grand champion would be crowned.
All this, of course, makes it difficult as to how to view A Knightís Tale: a comedy, a spoof, a period action-adventure, a drama. Helgeland has made it a hodge-podge of all of the aforementioned genres.
His story revolves around William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), squire to a veteran knight. When his employer is found sitting under a tree dead, William, with the help of his friends. Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk), puts on the knightís armor, takes his place at the joust and wins the tournament.
William then decides to use the prize money to fulfill his dream of becoming a championship jouster. Unfortunately, only knights are permitted to joust, so William ó with the help of an unemployed writer named Geoff Chaucer (Paul Bettany) ó reinvents himself as Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland and begins his climb up the tournament ladder.
A Knightís Tale is a corny, fairy tale, yet somehow it exudes an innocent and winning charm. You know, historically, itís rubbish, but so go along just for the fun.
For example, you laugh when William ó along with the other knights ó marches triumphantly into the London he left as a child and the soundtrack blasts out Tin Lizzyís ìThe Boys Are Back in Town.î
This is definitely a movie not to be taken seriously. if it is anything, A Knightís Tale is a showcase for the charisma of up-and-comer Heath L:edger, best known for portraying Mel Gibsonís son in The Patriot as well as for wooing Julia Stiles in Ten Things I Hate About You.
He has a wonderful screen presence and a very nonchalant manner. He acts as the various occasions demands ó serious whe needed, tongue planted in cheek when called for.
He is a looker who carries a fluff piece such as this with ease. It will be interesting to see him in more demanding roles.
A Knightís Tale will more likely appeal to a younger audience. Medieval scholars might as well stay home as you will wind up shouting at the screen in frustration or rage at the historical liberties the film takes.
But this is not meant as a documentary about the middle ages. A Knightís Tale is an uneven parable about heroes, fame and self-worth. That Helgeland tried to give it a contemporary spin is commendable. It is too bad he was not totally successful.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN.. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or at bobbloom@iquest.net. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on golafayette. Bloom's reviews also can be found on the Web at the Internet Movie Database site: http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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