Movie Review: A Knight's Tale (2001)

Genre: Medieval Sports Action Romantic Comedy  
Director: Brian Helgeland  

Starring: Heath Ledger, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Shannyn Sossamon, Christopher Cazenove  

Running Time: 132 minutes  

Synopsis: In medieval Europe, jousting is a popular tournament sport, but only open to noblemen. When his master Sir Ector unexpectedly expires, commoner William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) decides to change his destiny and find a way to compete. Poet Chaucer (Paul Bettany) forges papers to "prove" that William descends from nobility, and William is soon winning tournaments. He falls in love at first sight with the noble Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), but she is also being courted by his villainous competitive rival Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell). 

What Works Well: This lighthearted adventure mixes sports arena action with romance, rivalries, and a feel-good underdog story. The medieval setting is a refreshing change from most rom-coms, and Heath Ledger is a dashing hero determined to rise above humble roots and achieve success - but only with a strong sense of morality and honour. Paul Bettany steals many scenes as the spotlight-loving gambling-addicted grandiloquent poet, and sudden modern music interruptions spike the comedic quotient.

What Does Not Work As Well: The running time is a solid 30 minutes too long, and the fundamentals of the romance between William and Jocelyn start and end with a few barbed exchanges. The stuntmen receive plenty of camera time in the numerous and repetitive jousting scenes, while interesting characters like Kate (a widowed blacksmith) and Prince Edward are short-changed.

Key Quote:

Adhemar (to William): You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting. In what world could you possibly beat me?

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