The Reckoning (2004)
Also known as "Morality Play"
The truth shall come to light
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Paul Bettany, Brian Cox, Gina McKee, Ewen Bremner, Vincent Cassel, Simon McBurney, Elvira Minguez, Mark Benton, Matthew MacFadyen, Richard Durden, Tom Hardy, George Wells, James Cosmo, Simon Pegg
Director: Paul McGuigan
Running Time: 112 minutes
US MPAA rating: RUK BBFC rating: 15
Crime, Drama
On DVD As a general rule, monks really only have a couple of key strengths. Calligraphy is one of them. Keeping shtum is the other. And that's about it really. So 'The Reckoning's Nicholas (Paul Bettany) would appear to be something of a super-monk, juggling his regular monking duties with acting, solving mysteries, and being a bit of a hit with the womenfolk. He's the James Bond of friars, only his license is to wear robes and do a bit of preaching.
It's England, 1380, and our Nick causes a bit of an uproar when he's caught necking with a lady (it's a shock not so much because of his chosen career path, but because up until that point nobody had realised that a man boasting such a ridiculous bowl-cut would ever be able to pull). So our rebellious man of the cloth goes on the run and joins a band of travelling thespians led by the crevice-faced Martin (Willem Dafoe).
Eventually, this gang of theatre-loving tinks wind up at a small town, where they perform weary renditions of various bible yarns for the plague-ridden shit-encrusted locals. But there's controversy on the horizon when they decide to change artistic direction and re-enact the story of a recent murder. Upon researching the tale, they learn the hag locked up in the neighbourhood dungeon is actually innocent, and that the man responsible is none other than resident toff Lord De Guise (Vincent Cassel). Suffice to say, their next performance is less a play than a very early prototype of a 'Crimewatch' reconstruction.
'The Reckoning' features some good performances from its lead players, and is nicely-directed by '
DVD Extras: Soundbites, and some unimaginatively-titled featurettes called 'Thriller', 'Production Design', 'The Actors' and 'On Location'.
It's Got: Willem Dafoe wearing an absurd skin-coloured jumper with a naked torso drawn on the front.
It Needs: To show us what the matching trousers look like.
Alternatives: The Name of the Rose
Summary: Medieval monotony.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 12th November 2004
Image Gallery
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External Links
Official Web Site
The Reckoning at the IMDB
Comments1 Comment |
| I think it is good movie, in my opinion the best part is debate between Nicholas and lord de Guise. The review of Gary Panton is a bit stupid, but we have to respect shallow people as well. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 26 November 2004 | ip: logged |
