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A Knight's
Tale
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Release
Date: 31st August 2001
Distributor: Columbia Tristar
Certificate: 15
Starring: Alan Tudyk, Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany
Director: Brian
Helgeland
Running Time:
122
mins
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"If
a man believes enough, a man can do anything," a poor thatcher tells
his son. "A man can change his stars." But in 14th century England,
fortunes are not made - they are predestined. For lowborn William (Ledger),
the son of this poor thatcher, it seems impossible that he could ever realize
his childhood dream of becoming a knight. Fortunes do not change overnight.
People die in the same station into which they are born. That is the natural
order.
But one day, at a jousting tournament, where knights race toward each other
in tests of skill and nerve to the strains of Queen's "We Will Rock
You", fate deals William a shot at his dream. Before long he has reinvented
himself, appearing as the noble superstar Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland
to the sounds of thunderous hoof beats, the rising roar of the crowd and
an infusion of pop music. |
The
tale of William and his band of medieval misfits - including serious, soft-hearted
Roland (Addy), hot-headed, flame-haired Wat (Alan Tudyk) and unemployed
writer Geoff Chaucer (Paul Bettany) - is a remarkably accurate picture of
medieval England, when tunes such as Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back
In Town", David Bowie's "Golden Years" and, of course, Queen's
"We Are The Champions" were big hits. Also the way that the women
are portrayed in this film working with the men - in fact the female blacksmith
who designs Williams tight fitting and lightweight revolutionary armour
probably really existed...
'A Knight's Tale' is a cross between 'Shakespeare In Love' and Mel Brooks'
'Robin Hood: Men In Tights'. It is a funny juxtaposition of modern morals
and behaviour into an ancient setting. And with its stunning soundtrack,
this film will appeal to most of the family. |
| 'A
Knight's Tale' springs from the imagination of Academy Award-winning writer-director
Brian Helgeland who seems to have felt the need to place some more likeable
characters in this film than in his earlier work such as 'L. A. Confidential'
and 'Payback'. Australian Heart-throb Heath Ledger was last seen as Mel
Gibson's son in the American war of Independence film 'The Patriot'. His
debut was in an Australian teen drama 'Blackrock' in 1997, which led to
his TV role as a gay Olympic cyclist in "Sweat". He followed that
with "Roar," where he played a Celtic warrior prince, 'Two Hands'
and then "Ten Things I Hate About You," with Julia Stiles. Instead
of letting himself fall into other clichŽd teen roles, he waited a
year for the right script to arrive, ending up with the part in 'The Patriot'. |
| I watched
this film last night at the preview. Wonderful film, I say 'wonderful' because
it captures the type of film it is. Nice, lovely, refreshing and so captivating.
How great to watch a film without violence (apart from the oBuena Vista Internationalous of course)
and vendetta. Even Rufus Sewell was likeable. The music was so oBuena Vista Internationalously
going to be followed by a CD but I'm gonna buy it Loved this film. Made
me on a high when I came out of the cinema this, which is unusual nowadays
I havn't watched a film I enjoyed all the way through for ages. Well done
Brian Helgland. |
