IR Film Review: THE GREEN KNIGHT [A24]
The texture of Arthurian legend can be draped in mythology and metaphor but it is usually straight forward. What "The Green Knight" does is bathe it in the subconscious while still maintaining the element of the quest. Even though it is in the open, the quest here is more inner, most of which don't exist likely in time or in reality. However that is, at times, what makes the film engrossing, once the viewer unlocks the ideas of what is being shown. Gawain, played by Dev Patel (in great form in a role that Adam Driver would have loved) is the nephew of King Arthur and sent on a Christmas Game (as it is called) against the Green Knight. The story is based on the lore of anonymous writer but that basis might have indicated jealousy, greed or nepotism criticism in a certain way on the part of the writer who may have been an unreliable narrator.
All of these ring true in a way as we are introduced to Gawain enjoying the spoils of life with the fun on a commoner. As the imagery progresses one gets a sense of guilt but eventually what his true inner nature or values might be, either as a hypocritical knave or even worse, a coward. The beginning sets this up and one is perhaps expecting a blood path but the journey is more riveting than that. In a way that "Antichrist" did in a more overt way, the temptations of life are relegated in words with lingering imagery that spins in a way, much like M. Night Shamaylan recently tried to do with "Old" but this is much more effective. Different sequences take on different parts of Gawain's psyche, and while there are odes to Dante and perhaps "The Tempest", they are all representative of something bigger. The backdrop of what seems like Ireland (it says Wicklow in the credits) is most specifically shown in a large sequence (don't want to give it away) that is large in scope but simple in effect (so not too expensive). It brings to mind something Scott or Villeneuve would have done. It is impactful.
Almost more impactful is Alicia Vikander. Her role later as the lady of a household is absolutely riveting, almost knocking both Joel Edgerton (who is very good as well) in addition to Patel almost out of the scene. It is the best she has been in anything (including "Ex Machina"). A parallel role is interesting as well since for the first half of the movie, this reviewer didn't even know it was her. This deserves a Supporting Actress nomination. A "Falcon & The Winter Soldier" actress also shows up, again in parallel, intriguing the idea here of multiple viewings since deeper clues might be noticeable and key to unlocking other points. David Lowery, the director, is known for the Robert Redford film "The Old Man & The Gun" and the remake of "Pete's Dragon" but this seems to be operating on a different level but what inspired it is unknown. It is just a beauty it exists and A24 (as usual) finds and brings a great film to light with an intriguing story that is both accessible and engrossing and yet still mysterious in its own way. A-
By Tim Wassberg
