The Green Knight (2021)
Let me start off by saying I really, really wanted to like this movie. I’ve been searching for a dark fantasy film I could get fully enthralled in. Something that captures that bleak, mysterious tone I’ve been craving ever since replaying Dark Souls and reading A Clash of Kings. And for the most part, I did enjoy The Green Knight. It’s trippy, mysterious, and constantly keeps you slightly off balance, never fully letting you get settled in. And like the main character throughout the whole story, this movie will feel like a dream or even a test.
The problem I have is really a lot about Dev Patel...To be fair, he’s not a bad actor, but there’s something about him that...gives me the creeps. I don't know where it comes from and it's probably unfair but it's there. He comes across as weak and whiny. And to be honest, while that may sound like a criticism, and I was in fact annoyed by it, I also understand it's very clearly intentional by the director. This isn’t a story about a traditional, preordained hero. Gawain isn’t noble in the way we expect; he’s impulsive, insecure, and often driven more by fear or pride than actual courage.
I also have to begrudgingly kind of admit this is where the film kind of becomes more interesting the more I think about it. We’re so used to the main characters being competent, goody two-shoes, destined figures that when we’re given someone who feels untested and shaky, it almost feels wrong. The movie is essentially asking: what would a legendary tale look like if the person at its center wasn’t ready for it? Not a hero fulfilling a prophecy, but a man stumbling into one.
Visually and atmospherically speaking the film is hard to fault. It’s genuinely beautiful in a haunting way. The landscapes feel ancient and indifferent, and there’s this constant sense that something larger and unknowable is at work. Even when you don’t fully understand what’s going on, it’s compelling to sit with. (You probably won't know what's going on)
If you’re okay with something slower, stranger, and more introspective, it’s worth experiencing at least once, even if it doesn’t fully land. I’d still give it about 3 stars, but it’s the kind of 3 stars that sticks with you a bit longer than expected. Who knows maybe I'll like it more on a second watch.