by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Are you ready for yet another tall tale of a great rebel who stands up against a powerful nation to protect their people from oppression? Yeah…this one has been told quite a few times at this point. There is difficulty looking at historic epics like this without thinking about other films like Braveheart or Rob Roy. But there are plenty of folk heroes in many cultures who deserve a spotlight due to the impact they made for their people. However, if the story is not fresh and doesn’t feel unique, it will live in the shadow of better films. That risk that did not stop director Nick Hamm from talking about the tale of its titular character, William Tell.
Does Hamm do right by the legacy of Tell with his new historical epic? One thing is for certain: this is a well-made film. The cinematography does a great job of capturing the beauty of Switzerland. The costuming feels a little too modern for the period settings, but they are at least well put together. There are plenty of big set pieces and well-developed production design that brings this era to life in an effective way. The film is not particularly dynamic, but it does shoot its action well to deliver the number of thrills needed to engage its audience. The film is long as it reaches the two-hour mark and Hamm does his best to keep the energy high, but does not always succeed. There are plenty of elements, like the score, that works well for the film, but it struggles to stand out amongst better, more dynamic films.
Does this adaptation of Friedrich Schiller’s play “Wilhelm Tell” engage and compel its audience? There is a feeling that this film does not offer up much that feels unique. We have heard so many tales in cinema like this (even if some of those stories were influenced by the legend of Tell himself). There are not many elements of the narrative that feel unique to William Tell and when the film slows down, you can feel the momentum dragging as well. This is one Robin Hood tale that should make a bigger impact, but the way it is presented just doesn’t leave a lasting impression. But it is not just the familiarity of the story that makes this film less impactful. There are plenty of elements that are stuffed into this basic tale. This film might be over two hours, but it still manages to feel completely overstuffed. There are so many arcs and characters fighting for focus that it is hard to get fully invested in many of them. There are whole characters who could have been fully removed, and the overall narrative would still be intact. But the overall thematic threads of the film that focus on tyranny and fighting back against power grabs are impactful and poignant today. There are elements that will speak to people even if the mechanism in which these ideas are presented is quite familiar.
Does the cast help elevate this overall ordinary biopic? At the heart of the film, you have Claes Bang who leads the way as our “Robin Hood” type folk hero. He is there to take away wealth from the rich, but Bang finds a great balance between tough guy persona and the loving figure to his wife and son. Bang has a few moments to chew scenery and channel plenty of rage that you feel bubbling underneath the surface. His inspirational pep talk is a great scene for him to stand out. Then you have Bang’s loving on-screen wife in Golshifteh Farahani. She is a talented and impactful actor who brings presence to her scenes and delivers some real emotions along the way. Her character lacks depth but Farahani’s spirit brings plenty of emotion and energy to the screen. The likes of Jonathan Pryce and Ben Kingsley unexpectedly pop up in this film and they dump plenty of (clunky) exhibition, but they at least bring some presence to the film. There are plenty of moving parts and characters in this film with many talented people getting lost in the shuffle. You will certainly see some familiar faces, but they don’t necessarily get much to do.
Does William Tell have enough in the tank to give this a proper historical epic legacy? Tell finds Hamm leading the way with a well-made and interesting enough story that hits in certain ways in today’s geopolitical landscape. This is a film that is a bit too overlong and stuffed to the gills. Bang leads the way with a strong central performance that is full of emotion and intensity. Tell’s story is familiar at this point, but you might want to take advantage of this before it leaves theaters as it provides an engaging theatrical experience. The film does have an obnoxious tease for a superhero style sequel which feels so weird. William Tell is a strange case of being too familiar and strange at the same time.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
William Tell is currently playing in theaters
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