The Reckoning

The latest from director Paul McGuigan is fairly absorbing but probably of interest mainly to fans of medieval mysteries.   The story takes place in England in 1380 (about 50 years after the events recounted in “The Name of the Rose”, with which it shares themes of transgression, the nature of God, and church/state power) and involves a runaway priest with a secret who joins a traveling acting troupe.   In the course of their travels they arrive at a hamlet where a deaf/mute woman has been wrongly convicted of murdering a young boy.   One shortcoming of the film is that the identity of the real killer is practically telegraphed.   The cinematography is especially of note, incorporating chiaroscuro and capturing lovely landscapes.   With Paul Bettany, Willem Dafoe and Vincent Cassel.

- Mar 17, 2004