The King (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'The King' is David Michod & Joel Edgerton's loose blending of Shakespeare's Henry IV & Henry V, although Shakespeare's name is not included in the credits; and some of the Bard's more flowery dialogue has been replaced with slightly more contemporary dialogue. Set in the early 1400s, Timothee Chalamet stars as rebellious Prince Hal, the hedonistic 1st-born son of Henry IV (Ben Mendelsohn), who reluctantly returns home as his father is dying. Once home, Hal discovers that his father has decided that - due to Hal's careless, 'whoring fool' ways - that his younger brother, Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman, Tommen from Game of Thrones, & will be in this yr.'s 1917) will inherit the throne, and not him. As fate would have it, Thomas dies in battle in warring Wales. Now crowned Henry V, Hal wants England to unify the lands & aim for peace; but must contend with the late king's foes, and to decide whether to continue fighting the French in 'unnecessary' wars.
At Hal's side is his battle-weary, alcoholic, knight friend, Sir John Falstaff. (Edgerton), who soon becomes the Warrior King's most trusted confidante. Eventually, Hal's troops confront the French, led by sneering Dauphin Louis (Robert Pattinson), the flamboyant, foppish son of King Charles VI, at a muddy bloodbath known as the Battle of Agincourt. Although the British were farrrr outnumbered by the French, Henry V's army possessed a brand new weapon - the longbow - to accompany catapults & flung fireballs. When the French cavalry attacked the English archers, they encountered a barrage of wooden stakes & were sliced down by arrows. After that stunning victory, Henry V captured Caen, Rouen & Normandy until Charles VI finally surrendered. On 5/21/1420, they signed the Treaty of Troyes, disinheriting the Dauphin, naming Henry as France's Regent & bestowing Charles' beautiful daughter (Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny's daughter) as Henry's bride.
I appreciate the morbid, gloomy seriousness of this medieval drama, but that very description could also turn some people off. Chalamet is excellent as Hal/Henry V. All the angst he brought to his portrayal of Elio in Call Me By Your Name 2 yrs. ago is on full display here. Sure, there are some magnificently-mounted battle scenes, but the power of this film rests on the thin shoulders of Chalamet, who excels in conveying of the scowling, seething inner-turmoil of conflicted Henry V. Hal trusts no one save for ever-faithful Falstaff. Joel Edgerton doesn't disappoint in that role, either. And Lily-Rose Depp adds a much-needed spark as combative French princess, Catherine. The role is small, but she bewitches Hal - and us - in no time, flat.
'The King' contains some stark, hard-edged cinematography {lots of deep blues, steely grays, bloody maroons & mucky browns}, superb period production design {castles, weaponry} & amazing field battles {both one-on-one btwn. Hal & the Dauphin, as well as battles of thousands}. Said production design creates a realness {no elegant swordsmanship here, just muddy murderous throw-downs} that makes it feel like you're RIGHT there; particularly during the epic Agincourt battle. Also exceptional is the sound work; you feel the swoosh & boom of every clink of a sword or fire of a catapult. The acting & techs are solid.
Though Shakespeare's poetic iambic pentameter is classic, I'm glad some of the dialogue is more colloquial, here. That's because a lot of the proceedings are DEADLY serious -- there is not a hint of sense of humor to be found anywhere. Furthermore, there's a lack of character development to most of the players that irked me. I needed more proverbial meat on the bones. At least Robert Pattinson livens-up the story once he bursts on the screen. This film highlights themes of nationalism & the tedium of waging endless, pointless wars. But while I appreciate the authenticity of this film, it did need a shot of adrenaline here & there -- no one likes a cinematic slog. Luckily for me, 'The King' offered just enough strengths to thwart my pangs of ennui.
At Hal's side is his battle-weary, alcoholic, knight friend, Sir John Falstaff. (Edgerton), who soon becomes the Warrior King's most trusted confidante. Eventually, Hal's troops confront the French, led by sneering Dauphin Louis (Robert Pattinson), the flamboyant, foppish son of King Charles VI, at a muddy bloodbath known as the Battle of Agincourt. Although the British were farrrr outnumbered by the French, Henry V's army possessed a brand new weapon - the longbow - to accompany catapults & flung fireballs. When the French cavalry attacked the English archers, they encountered a barrage of wooden stakes & were sliced down by arrows. After that stunning victory, Henry V captured Caen, Rouen & Normandy until Charles VI finally surrendered. On 5/21/1420, they signed the Treaty of Troyes, disinheriting the Dauphin, naming Henry as France's Regent & bestowing Charles' beautiful daughter (Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny's daughter) as Henry's bride.
I appreciate the morbid, gloomy seriousness of this medieval drama, but that very description could also turn some people off. Chalamet is excellent as Hal/Henry V. All the angst he brought to his portrayal of Elio in Call Me By Your Name 2 yrs. ago is on full display here. Sure, there are some magnificently-mounted battle scenes, but the power of this film rests on the thin shoulders of Chalamet, who excels in conveying of the scowling, seething inner-turmoil of conflicted Henry V. Hal trusts no one save for ever-faithful Falstaff. Joel Edgerton doesn't disappoint in that role, either. And Lily-Rose Depp adds a much-needed spark as combative French princess, Catherine. The role is small, but she bewitches Hal - and us - in no time, flat.
'The King' contains some stark, hard-edged cinematography {lots of deep blues, steely grays, bloody maroons & mucky browns}, superb period production design {castles, weaponry} & amazing field battles {both one-on-one btwn. Hal & the Dauphin, as well as battles of thousands}. Said production design creates a realness {no elegant swordsmanship here, just muddy murderous throw-downs} that makes it feel like you're RIGHT there; particularly during the epic Agincourt battle. Also exceptional is the sound work; you feel the swoosh & boom of every clink of a sword or fire of a catapult. The acting & techs are solid.
Though Shakespeare's poetic iambic pentameter is classic, I'm glad some of the dialogue is more colloquial, here. That's because a lot of the proceedings are DEADLY serious -- there is not a hint of sense of humor to be found anywhere. Furthermore, there's a lack of character development to most of the players that irked me. I needed more proverbial meat on the bones. At least Robert Pattinson livens-up the story once he bursts on the screen. This film highlights themes of nationalism & the tedium of waging endless, pointless wars. But while I appreciate the authenticity of this film, it did need a shot of adrenaline here & there -- no one likes a cinematic slog. Luckily for me, 'The King' offered just enough strengths to thwart my pangs of ennui.