What's happened
The Guardian and Independent reviews converge on Greengrass’s The Uprising (aka The Rise of Robin Hood), arguing the film’s attempt to parallel 14th‑century revolt with today’s politics falls short, while Garfield’s Ploughman amid a muddy epic fails to ignite. Focus Features releases the US version on Sept 11.
What's behind the headline?
Writing stance
- The analysis surveys how Greengrass’s visual rhetoric and Garfield’s performance intersect with today’s political anxieties.
- It weighs whether the film’s historical parallelism lands or feels didactic, and predicts audience reception based on current discourse.
Key observations
- Historical setting is used to reflect modern disenfranchisement, but execution may dilute the message due to pacing and tonal shifts.
- Performances by Garfield and Waterston are highlighted as high points amid muddled narrative decisions.
- Directorial choices—handheld camerawork and brisk production—create immediacy but risk flattening emotional stakes.
Forecast
- The Uprising will likely spark debate about historical analogies in cinema and could influence how studios frame future epics around revolts, with viewer engagement depending on its ability to tangibly connect past injustices to present concerns.
How we got here
Ridley Scott’s Treasure Island adaptation and Greengrass’s The Uprising are the focus, with the Guardian and Independent weighing in on the historical parallels and modern resonance. The Uprising follows a Ploughman and ally rebel leaders as they challenge a taxed, tyrannical king in 14th‑century England; the Guardian notes the film’s ambitious scope, while the Independent critiques its pace and emotional core.
Our analysis
- The Guardian: Timothée Chalamet and Chris Pine throwback roles in a historical look, noting the uprooting energy of Greengrass’s The Uprising etc. - The Guardian critiques the film’s pacing and the Ploughman’s lack of magnetism. - Independent highlights Scott’s blockbuster trajectory and contrasts with Greengrass’s approach. - Additional notes on reception and title changes.
Go deeper
- Will The Uprising change how studios approach medieval epics?
- Is Garfield’s Ploughman the right vehicle for modern political resonance?
- How will audiences interpret parallelism between 14th‑century revolt and today’s politics?
More on these topics
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Ridley Scott - Film director
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. He is best known for directing the science fiction horror film Alien, the neo-noir dystopian film Blade Runner, the road adventure film Thelma & Louise, the historical drama film Gladiator, th
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Andrew Garfield - American-British actor
Andrew Russell Garfield is an American-British actor. An alumnus of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, he is the recipient of various accolades, including a Tony Award and a British Academy Television Award, and has been nominated for a Laurenc