The theme of courage has found itself woven into multiple films and books. The idea of longing to be brave is something extremely relatable. The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz comes to mind as I write this. Standing before The Wizard after enduring the long trip of the yellow brick road, yet unable to get the words out. Finally when the Wizard asks what he can do for the Cowardly Lion, he musters out the words that he seeks courage. After the Wizard has heard the wishes of his friends, in the Tin Man, Dorothy, and the Scarecrow, he confesses that Cowardly Lion has had the courage within him the entire time. He also notes that the Cowardly Lion is a “victim of disorganized thinking.”
The Wizard later goes on to say that where he comes from, men and women with courage are called heroes. We often think of heroes in terms of the fantastical and larger than life. Our minds often drift to Captain America, Thor, Wonder Woman, or Superman. Even if it goes to Batman, his career as a crime fighter could be ended through the loss of his trust fund. Being a hero, or even having courage, applies to men and women who are serving on the front lines: firefighters, police officers, military, and many others. Those who place the well-being of others in front of their own mortality. Courage doesn’t have to be a large theatrical production - courage can be something as small as being vulnerable with someone.
Sometimes courage takes a journey to find. Similarly to The Wizard of Oz, Dev Patel finds himself on the road in The Green Knight. The Green Knight tells the story of Gawain (Patel) who sets off on a journey to face off against the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), in a retelling of the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The journey brings Gawain to some fairly strange encounters. It is these encounters that really bring out some of the best moments and visuals from the film. The visual effects use an exquisite color palette. From a visual perspective, the film looks like a medieval version of Blade Runner 2049. It has almost a kaleidoscope effect on the viewer. The visuals change and evolve with the story. Some of the film feels very blue as Patel sets out, while the end of his journey is thick with a stunning yellow and green tone.
While this is only two specific examples, The Green Knight is a visual masterpiece that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. I wish the narrative felt nearly as epic in scope as the visuals do. The narrative is sure to satisfy those who love the fantasy genre. Knight feels like a minimized love letter to The Lord of the Rings. While Rings told the story using three movies, Knight is merely telling it over the course of one. In some ways the film feels like a character study, though it’s not quite that simple. When the film is leaning into the intimacy of the character study, this is where the film is strongest.
Patel is nothing short of incredible here. He gives a phenomenal performance. Even if the film isn’t one of the strongest to be released this year, Patel has without a doubt given us one of the best performances of this year. His vulnerable portrayal of Gawain is powerful and captivating. He is riveting in every last frame he is featured in. Even without saying a word, Patel speaks volumes. He proves that he can be gripping even in the lure of silence. Even though she doesn’t have much screen time, Alicia Vikander is also another stand out performance. Vikander commands the screen and etches a tattoo of her performance onto the viewer. She is unforgettable and one of the film’s greatest assets.
Overall, The Green Knight is an epic hero’s journey that dazzles with its visuals and performances. Dev Patel and Alicia Vikander are among the stand out performances. Narratively speaking, the film experiences its fair share of lulls - while they bring nothing larger to the story and some of the stranger moments within Knight, they do allow the visuals to grow. The Green Knight satisfies the fantastical itch but isn’t that compelling as a film.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: So much of Gawain’s journey is rooted in the need to find purpose. I feel like that is something so many of us can relate to. It’s as if life is one big journey that has us questioning what we are doing and what the point of all of this is. Sometimes those philosophical questions can be overwhelming. We begin to question our own value and worth. I get it. One hundred percent. We have to remind ourselves of today and what we can accomplish today. Find purpose in today or even in that moment. Sometimes that’s all it takes to hold on. Savor those moments and grow from them. Understand your value and purpose.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. The Green Knight is property of A24. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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