The King Movie Review (2019)

With a lovely muted color palette and an absorbing story, The King is a more modern retelling of Henry V from a collection of Shakespeare’s historical plays.

When I was in college, my theater department did a production of Richard III. I enjoy Shakespeare, but I couldn’t get into this play. It was at that point that I decided that maybe the historical Shakespeare plays weren’t for me. But if they’d been produced like this movie, I might have changed my mind.

The King is about Prince Henry “Hal” of England, who has had a poor relationship with his father, King Henry IV. Hal spends his days and nights drinking and galivanting with friends and women, shunning his relationship with the palace. When his father names his brother as heir, but his brother is suddenly unavailable to take the throne, Hal has no other choice but to lead the country.

Based on several of Shakespeare’s historical plays (“The Henriad”), The King is a well-done and engaging drama that translates excellently on the screen. Written by Joel Edgerton (who also stars as Falstaff) and director David Michôd (both of whom are producers, along with Brad Pitt and others), this is a clearly big budget film, but knowing that this is also a passion project of theirs makes it even better.

Timothée Chalamet plays Hal, and he is very well suited to the part. To be completely transparent, I am not always a fan of Chalamet on the screen, so it is saying something that I really liked him in this role. He is serious and determined in any decision he makes, and his signature boyishness is gone. This is a young man with quiet passion, although not what his father would have wanted.

Joel Edgerton is also a standout as Falstaff, Hal’s closest confidante before and after becoming king. He is also quiet, but in such a way that when he speaks, you know it’s the truth. And Robert Pattinson plays a hilariously narcissistic Dauphin of France, who doesn’t have tons of screentime, but it is definitely memorable.

Much of this film has to do with Hal becoming king and the following battles with the French. It only touches on his romantic life, but it is wholly engaging from beginning to end.

The color palette is another standout for me, as it is mostly neutral blacks, whites, browns, and grays, including everything from the armor on the battlefield to the luxurious rooms in the palace. There is something starkly alluring about it and it compliments the tone of the film beautifully.

Overall, The King is a captivating story about a young man who would be king, but with a storyline that you may be slightly familiar with and character names that you’ve heard before. I definitely enjoyed it more than I expected to.

Runtime: 140 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: R

Languages Spoken In The Film: English and French with English subtitles

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? Nope

My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars

Available: Free on Netflix