Review: "The Green Knight"

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an old tale that has seen many different adaptations but David Lowery's take will be one that may just be the best film to hit theaters this year. The original story has an unknown author but remains to be one of the most well known Arthurian stories, it even managed to be adapted by J.R.R. Tolkien at one point. It combines themes of masculinity, heroism and facing ones fears or shame. The opening scenes immediately grab you and make you feel as if you are apart of this meticulously crafted world inside of Camelot, although, the film may not be for everyone as it leaves a lot up to the viewers interpretation and can be viewed by some as too slow of a burn. The obscure dialogue, fantastical world all manage to pull you in making the audience feel submerged into this surreal fairy tale. Arthurian experts may find some issues with Lowery's take but, Lowery has such an incredible poetic eye and alongside him a powerhouse performance by his lead actor that make it nigh impossible for anyone to look away once it gets going.

The plot follows Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur's headstrong nephew, as he embarks on a daring quest to confront the Green Knight, a massive emerald skinned stranger and tester of men, in order to prove his place alongside his peers and become a knight with great honor. On his journey, he comes face to face with ghosts, giants, thieves and schemers in what becomes a much deeper journey to define himself and find the courage within.

As of late, even during a boon of fantastical stories on the market, Camelot has struggled on the big screen and even on television. However, this modern adaptation stands tall among others as it is truly a remarkable tale of a man growing into himself and become heroic, as he has always wanted. Unlike typical Arthurian tales, it doesn't feel bound to the structure of it's predecessors and David Lowery's passion behind the project both behind the camera and on the page alleviate this film to being something remarkable. The way he manages to make the viewers feel apart of this magical world is unlike other fantasy stories on screens as of late. The biggest shame of this film is how poorly it did in theaters, whether that may be because it may have a label of an "art film" or Covid, I am unsure, but this film deserves better.

Another standout in this film is the cinematography and score. Daniel Hart's score is incredibly haunting and matches so well with what is presented on screen that the two go so well together in crafting this surreal and haunting world. Cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo does a wonderful job of crafting beautiful scenes that could just as well substitute for paintings. The use of lighting and certain colors are so simple but do well in symbolizing something meaningful to the plot and or how Gawain may be feeling given the situation.

For sure, Dev Patel may be up for an award for his masterful performance as Gawain. In the opening scene when he is meeting King Arthur, his uncle, and finally being truly seen for the first time by this figure that is not only his family but someone he looks up to and wants to one day be like, Patel is able to convey so many emotions and feelings without even saying a word. His growth as an actor is really on display in this film as he truly doesn't say much but yet the audience is hooked by his every action and able to know him and connect with him easily. This continues throughout the film in a very intense and intimate performance that will for sure catapult him in his career. Alicia Vikander does a masterful job in two roles throughout the film, and Ralph Ineson's voice is deeply haunting as the emerald skinned Knight. The Green Knight is a masterpiece among other films that have released this year, in a difficult year at that for films that deserves attention but due to a bad advertisement campaign and the ongoing pandemic I fear it may be forgotten by the masses. Although the film is a bit of a fairy tale, Lowery and Patel make this film into something much more that allows audiences to see themselves inside this magical world that is so vibrant and alive.