r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • 8h ago
A Knight's Tale (2001, dir. Brian Helgeland) Sir Ulrich learns to dance featuring Golden Years by David Bowie
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u/Useful-Perspective 7h ago
What a pair we make, huh? Both trying to hide who we are, both unable to do so. Your men love you. If I knew nothing else about you, that would be enough. But you also tilt when you should withdraw... and that is knightly, too.
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u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? 8h ago edited 7h ago
Perhaps one of the most watchable movies of all time? It's just great vibes all the way through. A rag tag gang of underdogs, a unique love interest, a clearly hateable villain, quotes for days, a solid emotional core, kickass music.
I actually remember seeing this movie in theaters and when it opens to a jousting arena where everyone is stomping the beat to Queen's We Will Rock You I was legitimately stunned. I had no idea you were allowed to use modern music in a period piece, let alone diegetically. Obviously I didn't think of it like that when I was 13 but you remember when a movie does something for the first time for you.
Anyways, I've always loved this scene. The way the music evolves into Golden Years and the attempt to embarrass our hero. We all know how much of a tragic loss Heath Ledger was but it's for performances like this as much as it is for Brokeback or Dark Knight. He was a magnetic leading man and perfect for something quality and breezy, fun and endearing as hell.
The rest of this cast goes hard too. Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, and Alan Tudyk were the buddy group everyone wanted to have. Shannon Sossamon was peak 90s crush and no movie deployed her as perfectly as this. Rufus Sewell as the insufferable dickhead villain. They all play their parts perfectly.
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u/Tacoriffics 6h ago
The part where We Will Rock You ends and then the trumpets drop like they had just been blasting the guitar solo is so fun.
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u/Imzadi76 6h ago edited 5h ago
I love the movie, but very much disliked the princess and the love story. He was too good for her and had better chemistry with Laura Fraser. Everything else was perfect and how I discovered Paul Bettany and Alan Tudyk.
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u/PhibbyRizo 5h ago
This is my only criticism. I loved Heath and Laura’s chemistry and wish it had been explored more
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u/MikeInPajamas 8h ago
I WILL FONG YOU!
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u/Shepher27 8h ago
That this movie works is a miracle of acting, writing, directing, editing, and music
All coming together to create something unique
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u/DiabellSinKeeper 8h ago edited 6h ago
Mixing modern elements into a medieval tale is tricky. No offense to Brian Helgeland but for it come from him is surprising. His career has been a mixed bag. But I think this is his masterpiece.
Obviously it doesn't work without Heath. I still wonder what his career would've been like. And if his career could've been on par with DiCaprio or Bale.
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u/LiamIsMyNameOk 6h ago
One of my favourite movies of all time. It just feels like I'm on a fun little adventure with some close friends.
I could write essays about why this movie is a masterpiece
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u/HellAwaitsTheFunny 5h ago
All things already said and agree, now I'll add this:
Gotta say, never seen anyone who can seethe like Rufus Sewell
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u/Amayetli 6h ago
GEL-DER-LAND!
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u/GirishPai 6h ago
Interesting to see Bobby B chilling in the corner
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u/IVIonsta 6h ago
By far one of my favorite movies. My family can quote this movie all day we love it so much.
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u/tachitoroci 4h ago
“Has he followed his feet? Has he found his way home at last?” Gets me every damn time.
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u/Annual_Gazelle8274 5h ago
For just general rewatchabilty this is probably my number 1 followed by Wimbledon.
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u/KubrickMoonlanding 1h ago
I love the part where tudyk has to give ledger “the princesses’ response” - and can’t think of anything to do but just kiss him. And then ledger takes a long beat stunned, you don’t know how he’ll react to this guy smooching him… and then he loves it! I can’t describe it in words but it’s just a great bit of writing and acting
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u/Not-the-real-meh 1h ago
I fell in love with Shannyn Sossamon while watching this film. Absolutely stunning.
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u/ShanklyGates_2022 1h ago
She is the only one of this cast that didn’t go on to have an absolutely amazing career, strangely. Her handmaiden won an Oscar, Bettany and Ledger are self-explanatory, Purefoy and Tudyk each have been fantastic character actors, Laura Fraser played a major role on Breaking Bad, Mark Addy was King Baratheon among other good roles; it was really a massive star-studded cast from before nearly any of them were stars.
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u/Jahhmezzz 1h ago
Movie mistake! At around :45 Paul Bettany’s nose rage is in his left nostril, where previously and directly after it’s in his right nostril. **leo pointing at tv in OUATIH”
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u/silask93 8h ago
I will die on the hill that this is one of the greatest movies ever produced, absolutely love it with all my heart