|
D
|
A
|
N
|
G
|
E
|
R
|
S
|
E
|
E
|
K
|
E
|
R
|
S
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
© DSFC |
A
KNIGHT'S TALE
|
|||||||||||
| ANACHROTASTIC! | ||||||||||||
| by
pat This movie really didn't look all that good. I got a free pass, so of course I saw it, but it really didn't top my list of gotta-see movies. Not that any list of movies I have to see means anything. I saw "Crocodile Dundee 3" opening weekend, but it took me two months to see "Almost Famous." Having priorities run the way you do thing limits you into being a product of your obligations, not your whims, which are a better representation of your mood at any given point. And flying dreams don't mean sex. They mean you want to fly. Unless you have a dream about being in the Mile High Club. So despite looking forgettable, I saw "A Knight's Tale." Glad I did. Heath Ledger is being billed as the next big thing. I can see that. After "10 Things I Hate About You" and "The Patriot," you have to admit, the guy has charm. Also, Australian actors tend to do very well here in the States. Just look at Russell Crowe, Dame Edna, and Yahoo Serious. Now I must hurry and finish this review before the humorless Crowe shows up and beats me within an inch of my life. The rest of the cast was equally likeable. Usually one has a quirky, occasionally funny sidekick. Hedger had four. Mark Addy, fresh from "Viva Rock Vegas," which wasn't exactly fresh, was refreshing as the fat friend who didn't have fat jokes made at his expense. He played well with cohort Alan Tudyk, who learned much about comedy by being in "Patch Adams." He learned that if Robin Williams thinks it's funny, so do Oprah loving housewives who've never seen what coke can do to you, and if their kids acted like that, they'd be out on the street, so avoid doing what Robin Williams would do. Laura Fraser, the least funny, but still likeable, was the girl of the group. She just had to blend cute and take charge, with a hint of mock-the-dumb-boys. Rounding out the group was Paul Bettany as Chaucer. Yes, that Chaucer. And for those to whom I've given too much credit, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Cantebury Tales," which you never finished the Clift Notes of in high school. The guy was hilarious. P.T. Barnum with a chunk of Bobby the Brain Heenan thrown in. Unlikeable was Rufus Sewell. He was a bad guy, so it's okay to not like him, but I was never sure if it was because I didn't like him or the character. Going on past experience, I saw the actor. I was hoping he'd fall off a horse and knock his wandering eye into place, but no luck. In "Dark City," he was the hero, immediately negating the film's existence. Take Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Goldblum, and Joaquin Phoenix, then give it the personality of kindergarten paste. Shannyn Sossamon was pretty cute as Denise Richards as William Thatcher's girlfriend. Oh, Ledger was Thatcher. William Thatcher, not Margaret Thatcher. That would've been weird. Cuter, however, was Berenice Bejo. I haven't seen her in much, because all of her movies are in French, and in France, but what a hottie. Jim pointed out her resemblance to "Survivor's" Amber, and I must agree. Yum. A quick note about the historical accuracy of the film: Knights rode horses, roads tended to be dirt, and England based its government on royalty. While I did not work at a Rennaisance festival, where you can buy T-shirts of dragons playing billiards, so am not an expert on this period, I think that's where they drew the line at caring. I know for a fact Queen did not put out an album before 1820, and the name Tex was not used until Texas existed. This movie seems to disagree, but frankly it doesn't matter. Too often a movie obsesses with the details and forgets the fun. Here, they openly said "To hell with it." Huzzah. 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT SEWELL by jim As I sat amongst the white trash and other such rabble at a free preview screening of "A Knight's Tale", I found myself getting very anxious for the festivities to begin. Not because I particularly wanted to see the movie, I could have really cared less. No, I just wanted a distraction from the moronic ramblings of the inbreeds that surrounded me. So finally it begins and my worst fears were realized. The thing opens with a bunch of medieval jousting fans breaking into a rousing rendition of "We Will Rock You". After a few moments though fear gave way to confusion, which then gave way to an outbreak of laughter in the "I can't believe they are doing this" vein. I was astounded that director Brian Helgeland would try to do this with a straight face. He presented it as if it was a naturally occurring event, something that COULD have actually have happened. For the moment it seemed that the period setting with the modern soundtrack gamble might pay off. Unfortunately, this is the only time the music element is used in such a funny and creative fashion. Most of the rest of the time, the music is used only as soundtrack and feels gimmicky and awkward. It's as if the filmmakers had this cool idea and then realized they had nowhere to go with it. So, as much as I liked the opening number I would have preferred to see it excised and the movie done straight. In a blatant attempt to contradict myself, I will say one thing in favor of the music. It help set the tone for the movies "Screw history and to hell with facts" attitude. If that was the goal then kudos to them. The story is simple, an able young squire (Heath Ledger) assumes the armor, horse and crew of his former master in an attempt to gain money and glory. He has documents forged and sets off to make his way in the jousting arena. His goal of winning the competitions is only foiled by the snobbishly e-vil Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell). Anyway, the two competitors clash in the arena and off as they both vie for the attentions of a pretty young noblewomen (Shannyn Sossamon). Long story short, the impostors true identity is revealed, he overcomes due to his kindness and bravery, he gets the girl. Happy endings abound. Think of it as the boy version of "Ever After". Ledger,as the would-be knight, is as charmingly goofy as can be. He has been called the new Mel Gibson, and as much as I hate those type of comparisons, I have to concede that this one appears to be dead on. His band of sidekicks threaten to steal the show at every turn. Mark Addy, who returns to the type of good natured, good buddy role that won him attention in "The Full Monty", plays the part of Ledger's lifelong friend. The one who really comes away with it, however, is newcomer Paul Bettany as a young Geoffrey Chaucer. Those of us that can read know that Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales". Those of us that read it go, "What was that about, I don't recall?". Those of that do remember, can smile through the film as we see him encounter folks that will later become characters in the first piece of media to celebrate the road trip. Anyway, Bettany is damned funny, and plays Chaucer as if he were the distant ancestor of Vince McMahon. Alan Tudyk is slightly annoying as the inconsistent Wad. As often as he seems to threaten, he never becomes flat out irritating and is still responsible for some of the films funnier moments. The big downside to an otherwise enjoyable cast is the ever creepy eyes of Rufus Sewell. His hissing Count is already a cliché, but then again most of the characters are. The difference here is that Sewell is not a commanding actor. He has no presence to speak of and plays all of his roles the same. So in a film where we are meant to cheer for the underdog, we have no villain of consequence to root against and the film is left wanting for it. |
|
|||||||||||
