Variety, 5 February 2004
The Reckoning
by Lael Loewenstein

If you take on a topic as unmarketable as a morality play set in 14th century England, you might as well assemble a killer cast and let the actors do what they do best. That's what Scottish helmer Paul McGuigan ("Gangster No.1") does with "The Reckoning," a mystery tale in which a troupe of thesps affects justice in a medieval village. Paramount Classics is apparently hoping to build positive critical buzz with fest appearances leading up to pic's theatrical bow this spring. But without rousing action scenes to lure younger auds, "The Reckoning" is going to be a tough sell.

"The Reckoning" has its flaws, among them a certain self-righteousness and a complicated storyline, but it is never less than gripping thanks to its gifted international cast. McGuigan, working from a script by Mark Mills (from the Barry Unsworth novel "Morality Play"), rightly gets things rolling with a compelling sense of urgency, brisk pacing, and a whiff of mystery.

Having committed carnal sins, Nicholas (Paul Bettany) is a priest on the lam. Alone in the woods, he happens upon a traveling actors' troupe. Spiritually bereft and desperate, Nicholas asks if he can join them. Their fair-minded leader Martin (Willem Dafoe) agrees, despite the objections of the burly Tobias (Brian Cox) among others. Martin's sister Sarah (the radiant Gina McKee) is drawn to Nicholas, though she senses that he conceals a dark secret.

Arriving at a village, the actors stumble upon the public trial of a mute woman (Elvira Minguez), sentenced to hang for witchcraft and the murder of an adolescent boy. Later they perform their stock material, "The Fall of Adam and Eve" to a tiny and disenchanted audience. Tired of small crowds and meager tips, Martin makes a radical suggestion: Why not perform a play based on the woman's crime? It's the 14th century variation on reality TV.

Seeking to flesh out their play, Martin and Nicholas question the villagers about the crime, but the townsfolk are uncooperative. They interview the accused murderer, who defends her innocence through sign language. Though tempted to believe her, Martin knows he must nonetheless stage the crime as the townspeople believe it took place. To their credit, McGuigan and Mills retain just enough ambiguity to cast doubt on any number of potential culprits.

The actors perform the new play to a large and zealous crowd, but when a villager demands to see a play about "the other boys," the throng erupts in chaos. Monk Simon Damian (Ewen Bremner), rushes to inform the local authority, Lord Robert de Guise (Vincent Cassel, emanating sleaze), who banishes the players.

In a third act overflowing with red herrings and plot twists, Nicholas and Martin try to solve the boy's murder and in the process discover sordid information about prominent townsfolk.

McGuigan elicits uniformly solid performances from actors whose individual styles are very different. McKee holds her own with the more visibly demonstrative Dafoe, who sounds distractingly American alongside the British cast. He contorts his body to perform physically rigorous gymnastics (Martin's stage warm-up) and has never appeared so lithe.

Cox tempers Tobias to blend in with his fellow actors where appropriate, while rising star Bettany shows he can anchor a picture.

"The Reckoning"'s most impressive player, however, is its stunning set. When scouting expeditions in England failed to yield a viable medieval village, the producers opted to create one in Spain. On the ruins of an abandoned gold mine, production designer Andrew McAlpine and his team built a thoroughly convincing 14th century town, complete with a castle for de Guise. Expertly lensed by Peter Sova, pic is rife with atmosphere.

Paramount Classics, in a multi-territorial acquisition, has acquired the medieval thriller, The Reckoning, starring Willem Dafoe, Paul Bettany, Brian Cox, Gina McKee, Vincent Cassell and directed by Paul McGuigan. The script was adapted by Mark Mills from the Barry Unsworth Booker Prize-nominated novel Morality Play. The director of photography is Peter Sova (Donnie Brasco, Good Morning Vietnam), the production designer is Andrew McAlpine (The Piano, Clockers, The Beach) and the costumes were designed by Academy Award winner Yvonne Blake. Caroline Wood of Renaissance Films produced the film with executive producers Angus Finney and Stephen Evans.

The Reckoning is a powerful story of redemption. A young priest on the run atones for his past sins by saving the life of an innocent woman who is accused of murder.

"We are proud to be working with such a gifted director and uniquely talented group of actors. The Reckoning is very cleverly told and brilliantly executed. We are thrilled to be working with Paul, a filmmaker of incredible vision. He has taken this genre and created a film that is fresh and exciting," commented Paramount Classics' Co-Presidents Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein.

Paramount Classics has acquired North American and international distribution rights for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America and Japan.

Photographer turned director Paul McGuigan received critical acclaim for his direction of Gangster #1, released last summer in the UK. In 1999, he directed The Acid House, which won the New York Underground Film Festival Best Feature, the Royal Television Society Best Newcomer and Best Single Drama, the Prix Italia East Single Drama and the Stockholm Film Festival Best Feature.

"This film has been an incredible and important experience. I have long wanted to explore another vision for this genre and am overjoyed with Paramount Classics' support and enthusiasm," said McGuigan.

Barry Unsworth, after having won the Booker Prize for his novel Sacred Hunger, was also nominated for the same prestigious award for the internationally critically acclaimed Morality Play.