The Green Knight (2021) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Directed by: David Lowery
Written by: David Lowery
Starring: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Ralph Ineson
Runtime: 130 min
Synopsis: Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, 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.
I have to begin this review with an important disclaimer. First of all, despite being an avid fan of fantasy epics, I haven't read anything related to this particular genre. I've seen (some) King Arthur films, but my knowledge about the Arthurian tales is limited, to say the least, including the original poem from which this movie draws inspiration. Secondly, a warning to viewers who are setting up extremely high expectations for what they think will be an action-packed flick filled with epic battles, following the style of The Lord of the Rings and similar content.
The Green Knight couldn't be further from that. In fact, it's no exaggeration to affirm that this film is devoid of any action sequence involving actual fighting, whether that be with swords or fists. It's a slow-burn character piece of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), the protagonist of a long, adventurous, self-discovering journey that ultimately focuses on themes inherently connected to chivalry, a must-have Knight trait. From honor to honesty, without forgetting humility and loyalty, Sir Gawain desires to become a Knight, but at the beginning of this tale, he's an incredibly flawed character, lacking even the confidence to be one.
In all fairness, if it wasn't for the mind-blowing, eyegasmic technical aspects, it would have been quite challenging to feel captivated by a character that barely shows signs of deserving my attention or support for the first hour. The imposter syndrome is strong until the very end, but the complex, layered, steady-paced journey that Sir Gawain follows is remarkably compelling and filled with fantastical elements that visually please any fantasy fan. David Lowery (The Old Man & the Gun) builds a superbly well-structured character arc, even if the pacing might be too heavy for some viewers.
On one hand, it's rewarding to see a brilliantly written evolution of the protagonist. A man who desires to be a Knight yet possesses none of the qualities one should/must have until a grounded, almost philosophical journey transforms him completely. Nevertheless, the ending of his monstrous arc is destined to make or break the movie for most audiences. A twisty, shocking final twenty minutes will divide opinions across the globe, making people leave the theater uncertain of how they feel about it, just like I did. After a good night of sleep, I managed to form a solid thought about it.
While I understand and even enjoy the ending per se, Lowery's execution doesn't quite work for me. It's one of those ideas that works seamlessly on paper, but when it transfers to the screen, I find it hard not to feel slightly underwhelmed or wishing it could have been done in a different manner. However, I admit I was dumbfounded, and the impact of that particularly extended sequence is undeniable. Thematically, it fits the story and its many thought-provoking topics that can be developed through never-ending essays.
On the other hand, the lack of any sequence or plot point remotely energetic is definitely not a crowd-pleaser attribute, which will disappoint many viewers if they don't go with the right expectations - hence the warning at the beginning of this article. The action-less adventure deeply affects the already slow pacing, much more than I ever anticipated. Fortunately, Lowery's excellent editing work and narrative structure don't make the 130 minutes of runtime feel like it's longer than it actually is. Still, The Green Knight is a film that will undoubtedly test the patience of every viewer.
Moving on to the cast, everyone is no short of impressive. Dev Patel (The Personal History of David Copperfield) commands the screen with a powerful yet subtle performance that perfectly fits his character. With only his expressive eyes, Patel manages to emote contrasting feelings, delivering a display as layered as his own arc. Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider) surprises with not one but two remarkable interpretations of two distinct characters in the eyes of Sir Gawain. From entirely different accents to a drastic change in the marvelous costume design (Malgosia Turzanska), Vikander shines in every scene, especially during a long monologue about the color green and rot.
Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible - Fallout) and Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones) beautifully portray the King and Queen, respectively, something that actually leads to another compliment. Assuming I'm far from being the only soul whose knowledge about the Arthurian stories isn't extensive, I love how The Green Knight never relies on its most recognizable IP, King Arthur. This is the tale of Sir Gawain, one that doesn't feature the famous King who we've seen portrayed countless times in previous movies. I truly appreciate the simple fact that the name of the King isn't even pronounced once, placing the spotlight solely on Sir Gawain.
Finally, I need to address the award-worthy technical aspects that tremendously elevate the overall piece. Honestly, The Green Knight is one of the most stunning films I've ever seen. Yes, ever. The screen is dripping with immense visual quality, worthy of producing dozens or even hundreds of gorgeous paintings. Andrew Droz Palermo's cinematography must be nominated in every show once the awards season comes around. The epic scope of this movie is indescribable. It's one of those films I'll never recommend watching at home, no matter how great your home theater is.
The tear-inducing Ireland landscapes are filled with fabulous lighting that makes the world in The Green Knight feel genuinely fantastic, but by the end, it's the powerful sound design (Johnny Marshall) that ultimately stands out. Every single movement or action is captured with such impact and power, namely The Green Knight's (Ralph Ineson) body gestures. Once again, it's an indescribable feeling that only a theater can offer. Daniel Hart's score generates a phenomenal medieval atmosphere that immediately places the viewer in the right time, surrounding the audience in an environment they'll hardly forget.
Some fantastical elements feel slightly out-of-place, though. While most fictional creatures such as the usual animal guide/spirit or even witchcraft all have their place and significance, things seen in the trailer(s) - giants, for example - carry little to no impact in the overall narrative or even in the protagonist's arc. These moments made me feel a bit lost, unfortunately. In addition to this, the movie contains difficult-to-read title cards throughout the runtime, establishing the different chapters. The medieval font choice plus the gigantic size makes even three words a nightmare to actually understand.
Nonetheless, Lowery delivers a film that I'm certain will improve with time. Just like Blade Runner 2049, the extended runtime and slow pacing don't allow these movies to become instantly rewatchable. I know I'll sit around to watch The Green Knight again once it premieres in my country in a month or two, but even after that, it's not one of those light films people just pop on their Blu-ray player whenever they have free time to spare. I genuinely hope it gains a cult following, and I'd be interested in seeing a sequel or similar piece to this.
Final Thoughts
The Green Knight is a slow-burn character study with some of the best visuals and sound work I've ever witnessed. David Lowery delivers a thematically heavy, superbly structured narrative focused on the self-discovering journey of the flawed protagonist Sir Gawain. Dev Patel leads with an extraordinarily subtle, powerful performance, accompanied by an equally impressive supporting cast. Andrew Droz Palermo's stunning cinematography, Daniel Hart's atmosphere-setting score, and especially Johnny Marshall's impactful sound design deeply elevate the tremendous epic scope that this movie holds. However, some fantastical elements feel irrelevant, the lack of any sort of action deeply affects the snail-like pacing, and the execution of the ending ultimately leaves me feeling slightly underwhelmed, though admittedly caught by surprise. In the end, it's still an epic character piece that I highly recommend to any fantasy fan but beware of unrealistically high, action-based expectations.
