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The Reckoning (I) (2003)

 -  Crime | Drama | Mystery  -  4 June 2004 (UK)
6.4
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Ratings: 6.4/10 from 3,891 users   Metascore: 49/100
Reviews: 49 user | 44 critic | 28 from Metacritic.com

A priest on the lam takes up with a traveling band of actors, who then discover a murder has occurred and try to solve it by recreating the crime in a play.

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(novel), (screenplay)
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Title: The Reckoning (2003)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Nicholas
Marian Aguilera ...
Nicholas' Lover
Trevor Steedman ...
Jealous Husband
...
Stephen
...
Straw
...
Tobias
...
...
Sarah
Stuart Wells ...
Springer (as George Wells)
...
Lord De Guise
...
Martha
...
Town Justice
...
Simon Damian
...
Sheriff
Hamish McColl ...
Innkeeper
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Storyline

In 14th-century England, a young monk breaks his vow of chastity and flees the wrath of his bishop and fellow monks. A fugitive priest, he then witnesses the murder of a traveling performer--and subsequently, the mourning of actor by his fellow troupe members. He eventually becomes initiated into the troupe as a player, replacing the murdered man. They travel from town to town performing their standard morality play. They arrive in a town where a boy has been killed and a young deaf-mute girl has been imprisoned for the crime--sentenced to death for witchcraft and murder. Discarding the expected bible stories, the actors stage a performance based on the crime. Through the performance of the play, they discover that the townspeople know the young woman did not, in fact, commit the murder. The stage becomes a place where vital human truth is told. Thus, simultaneously, the fugitive priest comes to terms with his own crime and makes a powerful sacrifice, thereby redeeming himself. Written by Sujit R. Varma

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

priest | murder | actor | monk | death | See more »

Taglines:

The truth shall come to light

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality and violent images | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

|

Release Date:

4 June 2004 (UK)  »

Also Known As:

Morality Play  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$18,044 (USA) (5 March 2004)

Gross:

$256,620 (USA) (18 June 2004)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Goofs

The climactic scene where Lord De Guise confronts Nicholas in the cathedral has many continuity gaffes and a scene where De Guise speaks when his shut mouth is seen up close. This is a deliberate dramatic styling to create a sense of disorientation. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Nicholas: Seek those things that are above, not those things that are upon the earth.
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Solid historical context adds to the mystery
12 February 2006 | by (Vulcan) – See all my reviews

Nikolas (Paul Bettany) is a 14th (or so) century priest with a guilty conscience. Guilty of adultery, he exiles himself to the countryside and casts his lot with a group of itinerant theatrical players lead by Martin (DaFoe). Though Nikolas has no discernible acting talent, the troupe begins to grow attached to him, especially as he develops an interest in the mystery of the disappearance and death of several young boys in a small town the players have come to visit. Nikolas exhumes the corpse, attracting the attention and ire of the local magistrate, and discovers a cover-up and conspiracy which his conscience can not allow to go unexposed. Since the courts, the local law enforcement, the church and the local nobility will not listen, Nikolas must plead his case to the citizenry. The troupe takes up the task using their well honed talents.

This is a very clever, well written, very well filmed, carefully planned piece of historical fiction. The medieval period is portrayed with far greater accuracy and sensitivity than the usual contemporary film affords, though its cleanliness is a bit absurd, the set is magnificent and reminiscent of Herzog's talents in creating a historic context. The language of the film is also as authentic as it could be without resorting to archaic tongues few would understand. The acting is exceptional, though a couple of Bettany's soliloquies were a little predictably presented (he seems to do a lot of this sort of thing) with DaFoe and Gina McKee providing especially touching and intense performances.

The acting and strong script combine to make The Reckoning as good as a character study as it is as a dramatic mystery. It is not, however, a fast paced thriller and will undoubtedly disappoint those used to the style of mystery currently in vogue - that is guns-a-blazin' sex and violence-decorated kill-fests. If you're not in the mood for a slow-moving but intense film experience, avoid The Reckoning. If you want to be immersed in a different, but very real, world, and experience a contemporary issue through the eyes of those who live in that world, see it.


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