This film gives what feels like a realistic depiction of the medieval europe described in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. This is a world where the priest seems to have slept with all the women in town, the main Inn in town is also a brothel, and an animal could be hung for sodomy.
Stepping into this mess is a city lawyer intent on finding some peace and quiet in the country -- think "Northern Exposure" set during the 1450's.
There are some funny bits and a lot more sex than I was prepared for. In addition to the fact that animals could be tried in court, other bits of history are thrown in. The plight of the Jews, influence of landowners, corruption of the church and spread of the plague are all thrown in making the film something of a greatest hits of 1450, and that is ultimately the problem. While the film is busily touching on so many issues, it fails to deeply address any single one to the level I would have liked.
Another problem with the film is that everyone seemed to be wearing costumes that had just arrived fresh from the drycleaners. I mean its the middle ages! People back had only 1 or 2 outfits in their wardrobe. They were dirty, but this film doesn't give any of that, and that reduces some of the realism. It just never felt like anything other than a bunch of actors playing dress up.
So, while I learned something from the film, the lack of real dramatic tension, and a feeling that everyone was a little too clean cut meant that the film never engrossed me enough for me to fall in love with it.
The concept is great though, and I was left feeling that if this movie got the same treatment as the current HBO series 'Deadwood', it would make a great TV series.
Stepping into this mess is a city lawyer intent on finding some peace and quiet in the country -- think "Northern Exposure" set during the 1450's.
There are some funny bits and a lot more sex than I was prepared for. In addition to the fact that animals could be tried in court, other bits of history are thrown in. The plight of the Jews, influence of landowners, corruption of the church and spread of the plague are all thrown in making the film something of a greatest hits of 1450, and that is ultimately the problem. While the film is busily touching on so many issues, it fails to deeply address any single one to the level I would have liked.
Another problem with the film is that everyone seemed to be wearing costumes that had just arrived fresh from the drycleaners. I mean its the middle ages! People back had only 1 or 2 outfits in their wardrobe. They were dirty, but this film doesn't give any of that, and that reduces some of the realism. It just never felt like anything other than a bunch of actors playing dress up.
So, while I learned something from the film, the lack of real dramatic tension, and a feeling that everyone was a little too clean cut meant that the film never engrossed me enough for me to fall in love with it.
The concept is great though, and I was left feeling that if this movie got the same treatment as the current HBO series 'Deadwood', it would make a great TV series.