'The Uprising' Review
Release Date: 09/11/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Action. Drama. History. War.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: Focus Features.
The Verdict: A Maybe
Toward the end of Paul Greengrass’ latest historical action-thriller, The Uprising, the narrative tone shifts. This pivot matters because after sitting through two hours of a historical retelling of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England, we are then treated to a winking nod to a fictional character. Undercutting the struggle in the main story isn't invigorating, although I can admit the fantasy of triumph is easier to swallow.
The Uprising is at times an interesting film; I’m not sure it’s particularly well made. Despite the many historic figures at play, the story is rather simple. The young King Richard II (Woody Norman), confined by both his youth and nightmares of demon mobs, can't rule and defers to his crooked council for leadership of the country. At this historical crossroads, the Black Death has laid waste to half the population (these figures are dubious at best). Financing a war in France and in Scotland necessitates taxing the common people, while the merchant class and clergy remain untouched.
The resulting taxation on townspeople redlines their ability to survive. And now they’ve had enough; with their steel, grit, and growing numbers, they march on London to petition the young monarch. Leading the charge is the Ploughman (Andrew Garfield); his initial revolting actions inspire the masses. The Ploughman is a captivating character, with Garfield’s performance doing the heavy lifting. Having buried his wife and children after they succumbed to the sickness, the Ploughman fights for what justice he can find in his world, brandishing a sickle and a face covering.
Greengrass desaturates his film, with moody greys casting a bleak atmosphere on a dying country. The many wide shots of open fields echo the diminished population. His signature handheld camera work induces queasiness and feels out of place for the setting, leaning more toward documentary than straight narrative.
The obvious elephant in the room is the cinematic parallel. The ingredients of a deadly generational pandemic, corrupted leadership, economic turmoil, and national recovery are timely in the current American landscape. This doomed fate thrust upon a struggling group of people is not only a grisly turn of the historic wheel, but it is also handled here fast and loose. I was reminded of other period dramas that forsake historical truths for flippant narrative choices made from convenience or laziness.
The Uprising ends on a coda that, as previously mentioned, is more fantastical than believable. In a vacuum, this ending feels invigorating, opening us to a story that will bring joy and hope. Garfield’s the Ploughman evolves from farmer to freedom fighter to, eventually, assassin. The Uprising delivers on the rebellion but pastes on a desperate conclusion that fails to account for the actual toll of the story's meat. Allusions to Robin Hood are unnecessary, despite the messy marketing the US distributors sneakily released and then sheepishly pulled.
Bloody action, people shouting, promises made and broken, and bent historical accuracies run through The Uprising. On the continuum of historical epics, this film works by the numbers, buoyed by Garfield and the contemporary mirror Greengrass shakes in front of us. It’s got heart; I suppose that counts for something.
Where to Watch:
