A Knight's Tale (2001)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Brian Helgeland

Writer (WGA):

Brian Helgeland (written by)

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

From peasant to knight; one man can change his stars

Plot:

After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.

Plot Keywords:

Knight | Tournament | Chaucer | Jousting | Peasant

Awards:

4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	William
Rufus Sewell	...	Count Adhemar
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Jocelyn
Paul Bettany	...	Chaucer
Laura Fraser	...	Kate
Mark Addy	...	Roland
Alan Tudyk	...	Wat
Bérénice Bejo	...	Christiana (as Berenice Bejo)
Scott Handy	...	Germaine
James Purefoy	...	Colville
Leagh Conwell	...	Young William
Christopher Cazenove	...	John Thatcher
Steven O'Donnell	...	Simon the Summoner (as Steve O'Donnell)
Jonathan Slinger	...	Peter the Pardoner
Nick Brimble	...	Sir Ector

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action violence, some nudity and brief sex-related dialogue.

Runtime:

132 min | 144 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:Unrated (extended version) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37532) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Black and Blu Entertainment

Trivia:

The actor playing the younger version of William has different colored eyes but Brian Helgeland didn't feel it would be fair to make the young actor wear contact lenses.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: If the Geoffrey Chaucer character truly IS Chaucer, then all the knights in the film should be wearing chain-mail, not plate armor, as knights did not begin to wear plate armor until after Chaucer's death.

Quotes:

[first lines]
William: Should we help him?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in (T)Raumschiff Surprise - Periode 1 (2004)

Soundtrack:

We Are the Champions

The one truly satisfying film of 2001

In the year of the lackluster blockbuster (ie Pearl Harbor) and horribly disappointing hype-fests (ie Planet of the Apes) Brian Helgeland's "A Knight's Tale" shines bright. What makes the film so amazing is that the story isn't particularly fresh, the lead characters aren't particularly original, and the "special effects" aren't particularly special, yet Helgeland delivers a romping action comedy that delivers on all fronts. This is fusion-theater at it's best. The audience is believeably transported to the 14th century despite myriad references to the modern world. We're assaulted by the action and drama, yet cradled by the humor and emotion. Most importantly, at no point in the film are we brought back to reality; the characters are that charming and believeable. Even the villain has certain endearing qualities. Not enough that we don't still want to see him kicked swiftly in the groin, but we aren't totally put off by him, either. Think Travolta in Swordfish, or Pacino in Scarface. The men we love to hate.

It's difficult to lay a finger on what most gives this film its weight. I'm tempted to say it's the cast, because it's a collection of relative unknowns who manage to take their characters and completely make them their own. Bettany's Chaucer is wickedly impressive, Tudyk's Wat is a scream, Addy's Roland is almost squeezable, and Sewell's Adhemar is completely vile. The only "star" in the film is the little-known Heath Ledger, who brings a time-worn character to the screen with some kind of fresh perspective that has us cheering from the moment we're introduced to him. There are no Travoltas or Pacinos, and amazingly enough this film is all the better for it.

Throughout the screenplay Brian Helgeland, who not only directed but wrote and produced, gives us humor, sentiment and adrenaline in just the right measure. The lead characters really aren't new, but they are somehow fresh. And the supporting characters, while assembled according to formula, aren't formulaic in any way. Their emotion, approach and sensibilities are quite unique. Even the most predictable minor character (Edward the Black Prince) is oddly touching and powerful, despite the fact we know exactly what we're going to get with him.

The music is vibrant, and its usage is terribly original. The cinematography is at times lacking (the lighting is off quite badly at points, as the "Stocks" outtake presented on the DVD will make clear), but even my jaundiced and jaded eye honestly didn't notice until the third viewing of the film. Honestly, I was too riveted to pick up on it. I was IN the 14th century. What did I know from lighting?

Costuming is first-rate, the dialogue is precious, and though some of the humor is forced, by the time we get to those parts we're already too entranced by the rolicking good nature of the film to even care.

In short, this is a low-budget, minimal star-power action adventure comedy romance that borrows all the best elements of The Three Musketeers (BOTH major versions), The Karate Kid (of which I am much reminded) and An Officer and a Gentleman. It is quite a feat. The highest mark of respect I can give a film is to actually purchase it (it goes against my grain to own a movie when there's a Blockbuster on every corner), but I had "A Knight's Tale" in my collection the day it was released...and this after having paid to see it three times in the theater!

Yes, it's been a disappointing year for Hollywood. But "A Knight's Tale" proves that all is not lost. Rent it, buy it or steal it, but SEE it!