"The Green Knight": Movie Review
Similar in vision to director/ writer David Lowery's prior work ("A Ghost Story", "Ain't Them Bodies Saints"), "The Green Knight" is a haunting tale about the honor of man. The many answers to its ambiguous questions are what makes "The Green Knight" so unique in its world-building and characterizations. In a world where human-looking giants roam, fox's talk and spirits lurk each distinct confrontation holds a compelling lesson that ultimately fleshes out our main characters' arc. It's a film that holds irresistible charm, even though its obtusely pretentious qualities hold it back from greatness.
Loosely based on the 14th-century medieval poem by Anonymous, Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) fights for the throne by attempting to complete the Green Knight's quest.
Without Dev Patel's commitment to the role, much of the storytelling might have fallen flat. But Patel's ability to convey his character's emotional complexity in such an unusual setting is an impressive feat. The slight but noticeable transformation of Gawain can be interpreted in many ways and while that might cause frustration, there's so much to discover in each frame.
Relishing in its set dressing and costume design, "The Green Knight" deserves the highest of accolades for creating such a lavish production. The colors pop with such high intensity it's hard not to be hypnotized by one of the more gorgeously filmed movies of 2021. Lowery's film catalog has always had a drab visual style, even in his more kid-friendly outings ("Pete's Dragon"), and it comes as a welcome surprise that his new film breaks that mold.
But of course, Lowery's inability to tell a straightforward tale leads to some head-scratching direction. While its material remains gripping, the plot sometimes meanders and confuses rather than attempting to create a clear solution to Gawain's many interactions. As Gawain's trials and tribulations play out, the more its pertinent meaning gets disoriented by increasingly bizarre circumstances. Many might enjoy the ever-changing puzzle pieces Lowery employs, but it becomes aggravating when trying to understand its medieval fantasy roots.
There's no denying that "The Green Knight" falters more than a few times, but between the enthralling acting, poetic styling, and Academy Award-worthy production values, there's plenty to dig your teeth into. A24 productions have once again delivered on a wholly unique experience, giving their filmmakers room to take more than a few risks.
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