by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
It is special when a trailer sparks something in you and no matter how many times you see it (and as someone who would regularly go to the movies four to five times per week, I see them a lot), you want to watch it again. The second I saw the trailer for David Lowery’s The Green Knight, I needed that film right then and there. The COVID-19 delays have made this wait even more intolerable, but July 31 was the day I finally got to see this fantasy film in all its glory. After all this waiting and anticipation… did it deliver?
Simply put, this is one of the most breathtaking experiences I have ever had in a theater. There is a dreamlike quality to the visuals, and every frame is perfect. The cinematography is otherworldly as Lowery and his director of photography Andrew Droz Palermo bring poetry to life as the audience moves through this fully realized world. There is a haunting quality about every frame as the film is drenched in darkness and wonder. This is not your Disney Arthurian legend… this is a beast of a different kind. The storytelling is unabashedly historical and timely with new sequences being introduced with stylish text. You feel like you are really being transported to another time and place. The imagery is bold and striking from the start (a flaming Gawain (Dev Patel) on his throne telegraphs the trials and errors to come). The effects are incredibly rendered for a film that is from an independent company like A24 (this film is so A24). The music from composer Daniel Hart is haunting and unnerving at every turn with an atmosphere that pulls you in and never lets you go.
You can certainly spend days discussing the visuals and technical achievements of the film, but you need more than that, right? The way the story plays out is… a bit complicated. Generally speaking, the film is a story of growth and coming of age. Gawain is a young man more concerned with drinking and sleeping around with his “friend” Essel (Alicia Vikander). but when his own mother summons a great towering creature in the form of the Green Knight, Gawain steps forth to play a “game.” Gawain strikes down the knight with one swift beheading blow. One year hence, Gawain must accept the same. When the time comes, Gawain accepts his fate and heads out on a treacherous journey to meet the Green Knight, where he must find the courage and honor that he lacks to follow through with his quest. I would be doing the movie a disservice to speak further about this strange and bold adventure. The pace is methodical and many of the elements may be abstract, but the best way to describe it would be as awe-inspiring.
This fantasy film is not just about strange creatures and mystical things. There is a depth to the proceedings that makes it stand out. The symbolism is extensive and rich as it builds up this classic morality tale. Like any great fable, the audience is treated to messaging that is thoughtful and relatable. We have all been through a time as we tried to find ourselves. We may have been lost or misguided, but some adversity comes along and gives a call to action. Gawain finds his and everything that happens along the way has meaning and drives towards that goal. Whether it is explicit or deeply root in symbolism, it all builds down river to that fate, towards the Green Knight. Not everything is easily digestible along the way; things get a little weird (more than a little… let’s just say there are some unexpected bodily fluids), and things might not move along as quickly as many might want it too, but you cannot argue against the ambition that flows from every pore in this movie.
Lowery might be the architect behind the film but there are also artists in front of the camera. Patel shows why he is a real start with this performance. He is arrogant, self-assured, and cold, but then he must be vulnerable, terrified, and brave. He does it all! Vikander has an interesting role in this film as she is in parts warm and loving, and in others, predatory and seductive. One monologue is unnerving to hear as she brings power and presence. Sean Harris and Joel Edgerton also bring sturdy performances to their supporting roles as King Arthur and a mysterious Lord. Then there is Ralph Ineson as the Green Knight. Hidden behind plenty of makeup and costuming, he is powerful with his looming presence and resonant voice that echoes throughout the theater. His cackling disembodied head might be one of the most unnerving experiences I have felt watching a film all year.
So… will you be checking out The Green Knight? I must admit, I would not be surprised if many say no. This is not a film concerned with telling a nice and easy story. It is not concerned with giving a clear and traditional satisfying ending. Lowery wants to make the audience work for it. He wants to transport you to a different plain entirely. I loved every moment watching this film and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. This is a cinephile must and a challenge worth taking.
Grade: A