For such a big event, it is surprising in some ways that there has not previously been a film depicting The Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. Maybe it is because it would be hard to sell internationally. That therefore may explain why the American distributor, Focus Features, in a last minute panic before the opening, announced that the full title is The Uprising: The Rise of Robin Hood, though that amendment is not being used in its UK release. There is one basic problems with that tactic: Robin’s story is set in the 12th century.
I heard a lengthy interview with writer and director Paul Greengrass recently as he was much more keen to point out the parallels to modern day events, particularly Brexit, only begrudgingly making a comparison between Robin and his fictional lead character The Ploughman, played by Andrew Garfield, who leads the revolt against the cruel policies of King Richard II.
Whatever you want to read into the film, I found that Greengrass really brought the story to life. His familiar directorial style takes us into the centre of the mass of people marching to London. It is very immersive and exciting. Garfield is, to an extent, a bit of a weakness. He seems too well nourished and groomed. In short, too movie starry for his part. But there are terrific performances from Cosmo Jarvis as Wat Tyler, Thomasin McKenzie as a protestor who The Ploughman becomes close to, Jamie Bell as a firebrand preacher and Katherine Waterston as the sympathetic Queen Mother.
Greengrass takes some liberties with the story, but not to an extent that bothered me, though I could have done without the overly optimistic epilogue.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10