|
Post by stephen on Nov 2, 2019 3:49:07 GMT
Beautifully costumed and produced, The King has a bevy of strong actors in service of a story that demands — and deserves — a full series on par with The Tudors, but has to condense so much of Prince Hal’s rise into a single feature, which winds up speeding through the young monarch’s heyday so rapidly that it’s dizzying.
Chalamet gamely tries his best to imbue his Hal with the potential for kingly gravitas while still embracing the rebellious streak that made him a favorite of Shakespeare, but unfortunately he is working with extraordinarily thin writing. We are given so little shrift to why his sickly father resents him (and originally removes him from the line of succession in favor of his younger brother), the Hotspur rebellion (which is such a fascinating historical storyline to sustain a year’s worth of storyline) is over and done with in the span of a Simpsons episode, the Southampton Plot is blink-and-you-miss-it, and by the time he takes the field at Agincourt, we’ve hardly come to know the legendary figure at all.
Still, even with working with a gruel-thin script, David Michod’s direction is adept, Adam Arkapaw’s camerawork is grimy and feels like a more grounded version of his Macbeth cinematography, and the supporting ensemble does their damnedest to make the most of minimal screen time. Joel Edgerton’s Falstaff, while lacking the jovial majesty of Orson Welles or Simon Russell Beale, still has charm and panache. Ben Mendelsohn’s withering King Henry IV deserves his own film, as his absence is sorely felt after he departs. Tom Glynn-Carney’s Hotspur had great potential as a villainous rival to Chalamet’s Hal, and Robert Pattinson decides to pull a Dafoe in his outsized, madcap portrayal of the Dauphin. (I also found myself really drawn to Tara Fitzgerald’s performance as Mistress Quickly.)
Watching The King, I found myself thinking that it exists less as a historical retelling of a classic Shakespearean piece and more a test run for Chalamet’s upcoming performance in Dune, where he will once again play a messianic ruler who is threatened to be drowned by political intrigue. Chalamet’s definitely eager to prove himself, but I do hope that Villeneuve will provide him a far meatier role and world with which to challenge himself.
|
|
|
Post by theycallmemrfish on Nov 2, 2019 6:25:00 GMT
I liked it, I didn't love it.
I'll expand more when I can let it simmer... but this is NOT Henry IV. I was expecting Henry IV, but this is not that... I still liked it and I thought the ensemble did very well with perhaps Sean Harris being MVP for me. I did think Edgerton was great too, but being that Falstaff is my favorite Shakesperean character, I was underwhelmed. Maybe not by the performance, but by the characterization
|
|
|
Post by jakesully on Nov 2, 2019 7:05:55 GMT
Will eventually check it out (since I have Netflix) but I still don't get the hype surrounding this little Chamalet twerp. I've kept an open mind about him in terms of his acting abilities but still haven't been too impressed and am also baffled at the cult following he has.
|
|
|
Post by pendragon on Nov 2, 2019 7:31:52 GMT
It's probably best not to think of this as a Shakespeare movie. I'm not sure it could even be considered an adaptation. More like it takes some ideas from the plays as well as history. It feels a lot more like the historical action movies that Ridley Scott or Michael Mann would do. To that end, it's pretty effective, even if it tries to squeeze too much story, with things like the relationship between Hal and his brother being left only to suggestion. There's probably a lot that ended up on the cutting room floor. It's maybe because of this that Chalamet is able to give a really layered performance, bringing much more than is really there on paper to bring. Also, I thought the addition of the war being sparked by a false flag operation was a neat twist.
|
|
|
Post by TerryMontana on Nov 2, 2019 14:22:44 GMT
To those who have seen it, do you think it has a chance in scoring any big Oscar nods? Like directing, or in acting categories (most likely supporting ones)?
|
|
LaraQ
Badass
English Rose
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 2,819
|
Post by LaraQ on Nov 2, 2019 14:48:43 GMT
To those who have seen it, do you think it has a chance in scoring any big Oscar nods? Like directing, or in acting categories (most likely supporting ones)? No.It was nicely shot but there no way it's getting a BP or director nod.Chalamet was solid and his English accent was pretty impressive but the real MVP here was Joel Edgerton, who absolutely nailed his northern English accent and in an ideal world would be in the running for a best supporting nomination(he won't be).
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Nov 2, 2019 16:04:11 GMT
To those who have seen it, do you think it has a chance in scoring any big Oscar nods? Like directing, or in acting categories (most likely supporting ones)? I think its best shot at the Oscars are Production Design and Costume Design.
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Nov 2, 2019 16:20:44 GMT
I did think Edgerton was great too, but being that Falstaff is my favorite Shakesperean character, I was underwhelmed. Maybe not by the performance, but by the characterization You've seen Beale's Falstaff, right? Welles is seismic but Beale legitimately is my favorite Shakespearean performance I've ever seen on screen.
|
|
|
Post by theycallmemrfish on Nov 2, 2019 16:27:07 GMT
I did think Edgerton was great too, but being that Falstaff is my favorite Shakesperean character, I was underwhelmed. Maybe not by the performance, but by the characterization You've seen Beale's Falstaff, right? Welles is seismic but Beale legitimately is my favorite Shakespearean performance I've ever seen on screen.
I haven't (yet) but being that Beale was horribly robbed for Stalin, I'm not going to doubt you here. Sidenote: I listened to the Liz & Dick How Did This Get Made podcast and it was like a stroll down nightmare lane... and then I listened to Anaconda... and then Batman & Robin.
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Nov 2, 2019 16:27:53 GMT
You've seen Beale's Falstaff, right? Welles is seismic but Beale legitimately is my favorite Shakespearean performance I've ever seen on screen.
I haven't (yet) but being that Beale was horribly robbed for Stalin, I'm not going to doubt you here. Sidenote: I listened to the Liz & Dick How Did This Get Made podcast and it was like a stroll down nightmare lane... and then I listened to Anaconda... and then Batman & Robin. Geostorm and Drop Dead Fred are my two favorite podcasts they did. Make it happen, Cap'n.
|
|
|
Post by Mattsby on Nov 2, 2019 16:55:54 GMT
5/10. Something 2 1/2 hrs shouldn't feel like it's skimming, and something building from Shakespeare and a fascinating history, with a quality cast, shouldn't feel so low-fuel. Even the techs - the score is lame, did they just keep the temp music? and the visuals are nothing special, lacking atmosphere. Performances across the board are okay but dim. I liked some scenes - Sean Harris' last scene, and how the fighting isn't just violent it's clumsy and pathetic, and how about that Falstaff mosh pit....
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Nov 2, 2019 19:04:41 GMT
and how the fighting isn't just violent it's clumsy and pathetic That duel in the mud had me dying.
|
|
Lubezki
Based
the social distancing
Posts: 4,332
Likes: 6,554
|
Post by Lubezki on Nov 2, 2019 20:12:20 GMT
To those who have seen it, do you think it has a chance in scoring any big Oscar nods? Like directing, or in acting categories (most likely supporting ones)? No.It was nicely shot but there no way it's getting a BP or director nod.Chalamet was solid and his English accent was pretty impressive but the real MVP here was Joel Edgerton, who absolutely nailed his northern English accent and in an ideal world would be in the running for a best supporting nomination(he won't be). I don’t think people realize just how hard the Northern lingo is to mirror but Edgerton achieved it faultlessly.
|
|
|
Post by Weaver Addict on Nov 2, 2019 21:08:12 GMT
I did think Edgerton was great too, but being that Falstaff is my favorite Shakesperean character, I was underwhelmed. Maybe not by the performance, but by the characterization You've seen Beale's Falstaff, right? Welles is seismic but Beale legitimately is my favorite Shakespearean performance I've ever seen on screen.
So I just had to look up this Simon Russell Beale dude and omg! he's that hilarious scene stealer from Penny Dreadful!!! That entire cast is ACES btw. Shakespeare aint my thang or I'd check him out.
|
|
|
Post by stephen on Nov 2, 2019 21:22:55 GMT
You've seen Beale's Falstaff, right? Welles is seismic but Beale legitimately is my favorite Shakespearean performance I've ever seen on screen.
So I just had to look up this Simon Russell Beale dude and omg! he's that hilarious scene stealer from Penny Dreadful!!! That entire cast is ACES btw. Shakespeare aint my thang or I'd check him out. He's my supporting actor win for The Death of Stalin. Check that out ASAP.
|
|
|
Post by finniussnrub on Nov 3, 2019 0:34:56 GMT
Chalamet running towards the final battle like a "badass" is legitimately one of the funniest moments of the year for me.
|
|
|
Post by theycallmemrfish on Nov 3, 2019 1:12:01 GMT
Chalamet running towards the final battle like a "badass" is legitimately one of the funniest moments of the year for me. They really shoulda bulked him up too. He didn't need to be huge, but... also not 115 pounds.
|
|
|
Post by pacinoyes on Nov 3, 2019 11:17:51 GMT
Hated it kind of ........High concept boredom that has neither the artistic vision or the acting you'd rightfully expect from anyone in the cast at all - in fact none of these performances transcend anything here.
Lacking in any majesty, poetry, or grandness at all. If this was made for movie theaters in 1969.......1979........1989.......it would be a critically savaged flop.........in 2019 it has a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. See how smart we are now?
5ish/10
|
|
LaraQ
Badass
English Rose
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 2,819
|
Post by LaraQ on Nov 3, 2019 12:07:01 GMT
Hated it kind of ........High concept boredom that has neither the artistic vision or the acting you'd rightfully expect from anyone in the cast at all - in fact none of these performances transcend anything here. Lacking in any majesty, poetry, or grandness at all. If this was made for movie theaters in 1969.......1979........1989.......it would be a critically savaged flop.........in 2019 it has a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. See how smart we are now? 5ish/10 There's no question that this would've bombed hard at the BO,regardless of which era it was released.I thing 72% on RT is about right.It's far from a masterpiece but it's not terrible either.The fact that pretty much all of the supporting cast overshadowed Chalamet is the most interesting aspect of it,given that he is supposed to be the next great young actor.
|
|
|
Post by wallsofjericho on Nov 3, 2019 21:15:51 GMT
Loved Pattinson and Edgerton in this.
|
|
|
Post by jakesully on Nov 4, 2019 3:17:39 GMT
Just finished it and it was just okay imo. There was some legit good scenes thru out it and it looked great (cinematography wise at least) but overall it dragged and I didn't buy Chamalet as a badass leader. Genreous 6/10
I definitely prefer Netflix's other epic film Outlaw King by quite a bit actually. (8-8.5/10 range for Outlaw King)
Both of these films would have benefited from being mini-series though.
|
|
|
Post by JangoB on Nov 14, 2019 19:50:04 GMT
Kinda stiff, kinda dull, visually washed-out...The film desperately needed an emotional hook and the only times it provided one was during the Falstaff scenes, and even that felt pretty muted. I don't quite understand why some filmmakers take this detached approach to already rather dry material. My instinct would be to, on the contrary, try to make it as rousing as possible.
|
|
|
Post by alexanderblanchett on Nov 16, 2019 15:32:57 GMT
Another interpretation of William Shakespeare's "Henry V" quite modernized starring two of Hollywoods most -in hotthrobes. The execution is quite good with many epic moments, great production design and costume work. The story itself is interesting however the story telling sometimes a bit slow moving with the tendency to bore the audience a bit. Performance wise it was convincing most of the time. Timothée Chalemet was as expected very good. Sometimes a bit one toned but skinny Timmy had indeed some memorable moments where he could show off his acting weapons. I also really liked Joel Edgerton. Thomasin McKenzie had an appearance but rather unnoticed and unspectacular. Robert Pattinson was the weakest part, I can see why he was cast but I found his French accent rather a bit ridiculous and performance wise also not the most convincing stuff he did. I assume the film could have been a bit shorter and probably had the same or even better effect. Still a good historical epic with many good scenes and a great look and feel in general. Nice atmosphere. Could just have worked a little on the direction and writing.
Nominations for:
Best Production Design Best Editing
Rating: 7/10
|
|
|
Post by Pittsnogle_Goggins on Nov 17, 2019 1:47:49 GMT
I haven't (yet) but being that Beale was horribly robbed for Stalin, I'm not going to doubt you here. Sidenote: I listened to the Liz & Dick How Did This Get Made podcast and it was like a stroll down nightmare lane... and then I listened to Anaconda... and then Batman & Robin. Geostorm and Drop Dead Fred are my two favorite podcasts they did. Make it happen, Cap'n. Both of those are amazing episodes. Also recommend Face Off. It was super awesome seeing them live in Chicago recently.
|
|
|
Post by Sharbs on Dec 2, 2019 5:58:32 GMT
too bad we got more big bad timmy (lol) rather than spider monkey timmy. That battle sequence was pretty stellar. Fine historical epic, but really lacking in the Shakespeare department. - 6.5/10
|
|