The Reckoning (2004)

Average rating

(51%)

Starring:	Paul Bettany \| Marian Aguilera \| Trevor Steedman \| Simon McBurney \| Tom Hardy \| Brian Cox
Director:	Paul McGuigan
Studio:	ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time:	112 mins
Genres:	Drama
Languages:	English
Released:	August 16, 2004

Set in England during the late 1300s, Paul McGuigan's THE RECKONING follows Nicholas (Paul Bettany), a young priest literally running from his past. After encountering a band of wandering actors, Nicholas is grudgingly allowed into the fold by the good-natured Martin (Willem Dafoe). When the troupe reaches an impoverished village, they get word of a strange murder and look into the story as the basis for a new play. However, Nicholas and Martin uncover more than they'd expected, and soon a deeper mystery emerges. Meanwhile, as Nicholas attempts to find justice, he also struggles to come to terms with his own troubled history.
A medieval murder mystery in the vein of THE NAME OF THE ROSE, THE RECKONING is based on the Barry Unsworth novel MORALITY PLAY. Under the artfully somber direction of previous collaborator McGuigan, Bettany turns in an excellent performance as a guilt-ridden priest struggling to atone for his sins. In addition to Dafoe, the film also features fine supporting actors such as Brian Cox and Gina McKee. Utilising its historical backdrop to the fullest extent, THE RECKONING immerses the audience in its medieval setting, revealing the period's many hardships and enhancing the drama of this intriguing, unfolding mystery.

Rating of 3 stars out of 5

Based on Barry Unsworth's novel Morality Play, this medieval murder-mystery play follows a troupe of travelling players that drop their religious repertoire to expose the corruption hiding under the Church's righteous protection. Paul Bettany plays a young priest on the run from an adulterous past who joins a group of itinerant actors, led by Martin (Willem Dafoe). The group wanders into a town where a woman (Elvira Minguez) has been sentenced to death for the murder a young boy. Martin's company then determines to tell the story of the killing in the form of a production for the local townsfolk. Director Paul McGuigan maintains a mood as dark as the overcast sky and the plague-ridden times, but lapses into theatricality for the finale. But, although it could never match the doomsday atmosphere of Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal, it does successfully reflect the primitive, spiritual passion of a time when God was an avenger, not a redeemer.

Highest rated reviews

4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3 stars
Medieval murder with a twist

A Customer from Oxford, England, 7th October, 2004

Worth watching mostly for a fine performance from Paul Bettany as a de-frocked priest hiding out with Willem Dafoe's travelling players. Strong visuals, a good mucky feel and lively acting from Brian Cox & Gina Mckee. There's a murdered boy and an unspeakable crime, and the actors decide to perform the truth - risking everything in challenging guilty priests and Norman Lord (a cameo from French heart-throb Vincent Cassel). I enjoyed it until about 30 mins from the end when the director lets it all get out of hand. An OTT ending rather spoils a good film.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2 stars
Our Man Bettany

Colbygirl from London, 18th September, 2004

I knew nothing about this film when I chose it. Not often I do that. Willam Defoe I believe can often be a top rate actor but sometimes it all just falls apart. I have to say, from the minute he opened his mouth - his performance was just hidden behind an accent that I still really can't identify. I just know that every time he attempted the word Durham it made me cringe.

Anyway, that aside, this is actually a reasonable film. Paul Bettany is very good. Although the confession at the end is a little ham fisted. The Kings Justice flitting in and out seem to serve no particular purpose and Vincent Cassel just hovers in the background, not quite menacingly enough as all he seems to do is look out of the window a lot. Gina McKee her usual quiet self. Okay, its not great, but its above average. For a night in, you could do a lot lot worse. Of course you could do better but this is worth slumming it for a couple of hours.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 5 stars
Tom Hardy Makes A Good Eve

A Customer from Watford, 17th December, 2009

I rented thils film out as the Mrs is fasinated by Tom Hardy and trying to watch as many films as possible with him. This film does not disappoint. William Dafoe, gosh if I could bend my back like he did in the film, my wife would be a very happy lady. Well going back to the film set in 1300's?? about a man on the run meeting up with a group of actors which is where William and cast are involved. Also a very good cast of British Actors. Well my wife went gaga as Tom is very young in this movie BUT did he make a good Eve? Yes he did, is there nothing this actor cannot do and for one so young?

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Rated 3 stars
A Intresting Murder Mystery.

filmsaremypassion from , 16th September, 2009

The Reckoning begins with Nicholas (Paul Bettany) running away after comitting adultery and murder. Then he meets a group of travelling actors led by Martin (Willem Defoe) and he follows them to the next town where they wittness a woman sentenced to death after murdering a young boy. Nicholas and Martin visit her, she pleas her innconce which they believe her. They plan her story to a play making the town watch in shock of what really happened leading to a final confrontation to the king (Vincent Cassell). It was really good, kept me going through the begining to end without letting go. It has a great known cast from Bettany and Defoe leading, they play their parts very well. The co-stars also grab your attention, special mention must go to Tom Hardy (it's the real reason I rented it out!) because he was great and is a brilliant actor. Brian Cox, Gina Mcgee, Matthew Macfadden, Vincent Cassell and a mini cameo from Simon Pegg were also good to watch as well. I recommened this murder mystery to anyone who enjoys this sort of genre, I loved the way it was all set and had plauge reffences that suited the story. Well worth seeing.

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Rated 4 stars
The Reckoning

Wynter from , 18th August, 2009

Don’t ya just love it when you know nothing about a film? No marketing, no clips, never even heard the title before… this is how I stumbled across the The Reckoning – stop reading now if you like. It was on ITV4 (that late-night treasure trove of action, oddities and obscurities) and the program guide said something about a medieval acting troupe and a murder with Willem Dafoe and Paul Bettany and Brian Cox and Vincent Cassel… they had me at medieval. Directed by Paul McGuigan (Push (2009) and Lucky Number Slevin (2006)) the film sees Nicholas (Betanny), a disgraced priest, join the afore mentioned troupe (headed by Dafoe) as they travel the country performing Biblical stories. Arriving in the lands of Lord De Guise (Cassel) the actors, spurred on by Nicholas, are drawn into a murder mystery. Based on the book Morality Play by Barry Unsworth and channelling both The Name Of The Rose and Hamlet, The Reckoning covers a wide area that includes feudal politics, religion, morality and even the evolution of drama. Granted, the ‘mystery’ is not as mysterious as the film believes it is, but when the road towards discovery is as interesting, good looking and well acted as this it barely matters. All things considered, it is easy to see why the film slipped through the net. Based in another muddier time and somewhat literary in its approach, The Reckoning is a film that requires concentration. It is crammed with actors (Tom Hardy, Gina McKee, Simon McBurney, Ewan Bremner, Mark Benton, Matthew Macfadyen, James Cosmo, Simon Pegg and Julian Barratt round out the cast) but no ’stars’ and, although never drawn-out, it takes as long as it needs to. All these things, plus the admittedly dour content, will have counted towards its disappearance but, in an extremely selfish state of mind, I loved being surprised. A true hidden gem.

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