The Reckoning (2004)

Nikolas (Paul Bettany) is a 14th (or so) century priest with a guilty conscience. Guilty of adultery, he exiles himself to the countryside and casts his lot with a group of itinerant theatrical players lead by Martin (DaFoe). Though Nikolas has no discernible acting talent, the troupe begins to grow attached to him, especially as he develops an interest in the mystery of the disappearance and death of several young boys in a small town the players have come to visit. Nikolas exhumes the corpse, attracting the attention and ire of the local magistrate, and discovers a cover-up and conspiracy which his conscience can not allow to go unexposed. Since the courts, the local law enforcement, the church and the local nobility will not listen, Nikolas must plead his case to the citizenry. The troupe takes up the task using their well honed talents.This is a very clever, well written, very well filmed, carefully planned piece of historical fiction. The medieval period is portrayed with far greater accuracy and sensitivity than the usual contemporary film affords, though its cleanliness is a bit absurd, the set is magnificent and reminiscent of Herzog's talents in creating a historic context. The language of the film is also as authentic as it could be without resorting to archaic tongues few would understand. The acting is exceptional, though a couple of Bettany's soliloquies were a little predictably presented (he seems to do a lot of this sort of thing) with DaFoe and Gina McKee providing especially touching and intense performances.The acting and strong script combine to make The Reckoning as good as a character study as it is as a dramatic mystery. It is not, however, a fast paced thriller and will undoubtedly disappoint those used to the style of mystery currently in vogue - that is guns-a-blazin' sex and violence-decorated kill-fests. If you're not in the mood for a slow-moving but intense film experience, avoid The Reckoning. If you want to be immersed in a different, but very real, world, and experience a contemporary issue through the eyes of those who live in that world, see it.

'The Reckoning' is set in the middle ages in England. It is the story of a priest with a past (Bettany), a troupe of travelling actors, and a murder in a small village. All is not as it appears and although the answers will probably be clear to the viewer, it is in my opinion a story worth investigating. This movie is one that got away. Paramount was slow and unenthusiastic in its distribution and marketing. That's a shame because 'The Reckoning' has a great cast and a decent story.The basic story is about a priest with a secret, a group of travelling players and a murder in a small village where all may not be as it seems. The players (led by Willem Dafoe, Brian Cox and Gina McKee)are finding it increasingly difficult to earn a living. The only material performed are stories from the Bible and with competition from larger town guilds (Sheffield, York, Wakefield) where denizens can see everything in a week, smaller ensembles like the travelling one are finding it more difficult to survive. Upon reaching the village and learning of the recent murder (and imminent hanging of the murderer) Dafoe and players decide to perform the murder in an attempt to reinvigorate their flagging fortunes. Brian Cox has a pretty telling line after a first performance has measly results. He notes that in the old days they'd have gotten six shillings while now it's only two. This in itself was initially what attracted me to the film. It is an interesting point in theatrical history between liturgical dramas that were organized by the church and the Tudor period of English Renaissance theatre. I like to think that the film carries a subtle in-joke about the state of movie going as well: Multiplexes wiping out single theatre cinemas and part of the reason that this film didn't receive a generous release.But I digress. The story really picks up when the troupe tries to learn about the murder so that they can perform it. They're attempt is controversial for breaking with tradition, but also for its sensational aspect (the boy has just been buried) and the fact that they're retelling isn't what the village suspects the truth to be. I'll say no more of the plot as no to spoil it. The heart of the movie is character and the lead character is Paul Bettany's priest There are some who may find the priest dim, or meddlesome. I admit it was clear pretty almost immediately who the main villain of the film was and what his crimes were. The movie for me was more interesting as one where a character who is bright but fallible tries to piece the mystery together and unravel the conspiracy. Considering the silence he works with when he asks questions, I don't think his work is that bad at putting pieces together until the inevitable conclusion.Unintrusive score earns points, great atmosphere and good performances from a half a step behind Bettany, a world weary AC-Tor Brian Cox, imaginative and inventive Willem Dafoe and serpentine Vincent Cassel. Intelligent enough to work the little grey matter between your ears and with a decent question about salvation and redemption, 'The Reckoning' is worthwhile. Throw in a philosophical debate on the nature of a God who allows war, suffering and plague and it was enough to keep me engaged. Watch it if you can find it, 'The Reckoning' was under-rated and unfairly missed.

Was Just wondering does Paul Bettany's character die in the end of the movie because it stuffed up on my DVD and i never got to see the end of it but of what i saw it was an excellent movie one that really sucked you in and made you want to watch more and find out what happened next and Bettany's big inspirational speeches are just pure brilliance they give me goose bumps William Dafoe as always the cool chilling character making you not want to get on the wrong side of him thanks see you Apparently I have to write more lines so don't read this it is just a load of it so it will let me submit my comment i think this should be enough lines

I really like Paul Bettany and Dafoe is either wonderful or awful depending on the role, but always worth watching. I also think Barry Unsworth, author of the book on which this film was based, is a superb writer. So when I came across this movie, I was anxious to see it, and in some ways it did not disappoint.It was well acted. Paul and Dafoe were both good, and the supporting players were convincing. The script was weak, however. The villain was so heinous he was almost a cartoon and the motives of our hero (Bettany's character) we muddled at best. And although the villagers certainly looked like I would imagine 14th century serfs would look, they seemed to have enough leisure time to worry about social injustice and working together for a better life (when they were not searching for roots and twigs, no doubt).It would have been a far more interesting movie if it had concerned itself with the trials and travails of the traveling players instead of trying to be an action/suspense film.