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Movies / On DVD / The Reckoning
The Reckoning

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The Reckoning (2004)

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Reviews Counted:84

Fresh:34

Rotten:50

Average Rating:5.6/10

Consensus: A talky, ponderous movie.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for some sexuality and violent images

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Mar 5, 2004 Limited

Synopsis: 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,... 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. Utilizing 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. [More]

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Paul Bettany, Brian Cox, Gina McKee

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Paul Bettany, Brian Cox, Gina McKee, Ewen Bremner, Vincent Cassel, Simon McBurney

Director: Paul McGuigan

Director: Paul McGuigan
Screenwriter: Mark Mills
Producer: Caroline Wood
Composer: Adrian Lee, Mark Mancina
Studio: Paramount Classics

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Release:

Aug 3, 2004

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Reckoning

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
03/01/04
AV Club

While the basic idea of this really old-school detective story seems admirable, the plot and the period just don't jibe.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
03/05/04
E! Online
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/16/04
Film Journal International
N/R

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Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
03/16/04
Boston Phoenix
N/R

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Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
03/26/04
Orlando Weekly
N/R

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Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
04/02/04
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
03/06/05
Independent
N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
10/30/06
Time Out

A talky, sententious affair.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
03/04/04
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sustains an appropriate pacing for what is, after all, not an action flick, but, rather, in the tradition of the historical epic.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
03/18/04
Arthur Lazere
Arthur Lazere
culturevulture.net

Paul Bettany and Wuillem Dafoe make this often dreary middle age whodunit worth watching.

Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
03/12/04
Boo Allen
Boo Allen
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

Belongs to an impressive breed of suspense thriller that wrings tension not from gunfights or explosions, but from examining issues of personal integrity and morality.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
03/11/04
Brett Buckalew
Brett Buckalew
FilmStew.com

Celebrates the craft of acting both in its story and in fine performances by Paul Bettany, Willem Dafoe and Brian Cox.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
03/19/04
Carla Meyer
Carla Meyer
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A dark, compelling story with a segment that doesn't quite fit the period piece, but the costumes, make-up, and overall tone brings the dark ages to life.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
04/30/03
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

Basically, it's Law & Order: Medieval Victims Unit.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
03/18/04
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

The filmmakers expertly capture the 14th century in wrenching detail, all its bleakness and misery, down to the dirt-caked fingernails of peasants and priests alike.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
03/19/04
Connie Ogle
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Nitrate Online | comment Comment
04/05/04
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Nitrate Online

As 'The Reckoning' shifts from being a simple period drama to a whodunit thriller, it actually loses energy.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
03/19/04
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Kansas City Star

The story tumbles awkwardly.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
03/19/04
David Elliott
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
 
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