Review: The Green Knight

The Green Knight (2021)

Director: David Lowery

Writer: David Lowery

Starring: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, and Ralph Ineson

Plot: After accepting a challenge on Christmas Day, a knight must take a quest and fulfil his destiny the following year.

Review: I really struggled with wrapping my head around how I feel about The Green Knight. It’s not an easy movie to review. But, I think I found the perfect analogy to describe my experience with this movie. It’s like a tapestry. One you’d find in a museum. As you examine it, you’re blown away by the beautiful artistry on display. Then, as you scan the different figures, you can kind of start to piece together a story. You notice the brave knight, the lovely princess, a loyal companion, and the fearsome beast. And, while you never get the full story, you can more or less get the gist of what’s happening. However, more than anything you’re impressed with the craftmanship that went into such an elaborate piece of art.

That pretty much sums up how I feel about The Green Knight. I was in it for the beautiful way it told it’s story. Did I understand every detail? Not even close. But I was still sucked in by the majesty of the storytelling. The cinematography on display here was top notch. Every moment felt like it could be hung up in an old castle somewhere. And the way that camera moved through the space gave it a dreamlike quality that I really dug. Plus, even though I could never tell you what anything that took place on screen meant or, really, why it happened, I was still fascinated with every scenario this movie presented to me. It’s a real testament to the power of this movie that I was so glued to it. I often lose interest if something is too abstract and I’m sure some will see this movie as visuals without substance, but I was fascinated with this one. On the other hand, I’m sure smarter people than me will love this movie more than I ever could, because they’ll understand every metaphor and piece of symbolism. But, you’re here for my slightly smart, slightly dumb take on this. I felt like a little kid being told a fairy tale. I may not understand everything, but I felt the emotion. It’s different than how movies normally make me feel. I’ve never really had an experience quite like this one. And, honestly, I may take this journey a few more times. Because, at the very least, it’s unique.

So, do I recommend The Green Knight? I honestly have no idea. I think it’s worth giving a shot. But, I’d wait until it’s available for cheap and/or free. That way if you’re not vibing with it like I did, you can turn it off and not feel too much guilt. And, if you enjoy it, reach out. I’d love to talk about this movie with people because it is SO different. I feel it’s gonna bring in A TON of differing opinions and I, for one, can not wait to hear the discourse.

TL;DR: The Green Knight is fascinating and beautiful, whether I understood it or not.

Score: 8/10 (Great)