Now regarded as some of Hollywood’s finest performers and most sought-after leading men, Willem Dafoe, Paul Bettany, and Tom Hardy were still paving a path for themselves in the entertainment industry when they joined forces for the 2003 murder mystery The Reckoning. Set in 14th-century England, the engrossing picture features Bettany as a priest on the run from the church after he commits adultery, finding sanctuary with an eclectic band of traveling actors who become swept up in a controversial murder trial.
The Reckoning failed to become a massive critical or commercial success, but it did feature exceptional performances by its talented ensemble cast, with the underrated flick helping pave the way for the blossoming careers of Bettany and Hardy while further establishing Dafoe as a Tinseltown jack-of-all-trades. Let’s take a closer look at what The Reckoning is about and why esteemed film critic Roger Ebert was one of the few reviewers who were impressed by the big-screen spectacle.
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The Reckoning
Release Date
February 26, 2004
Runtime
112 minutes
Cast
Paul Bettany
, Willem Dafoe
, Tom Hardy
, Brian Cox
, Simon McBurney
, Luke de Woolfson
, Gina McKee
, Vincent Cassel
, Ewen Bremner
, Mark Benton
, Elvira Mínguez
, Stuart Wells
, Hamish McColl
, Matthew Macfadyen
, Marián Aguilera
, Trevor Steedman
, Richard Durden
, Julian Barratt
, Simon Pegg
, James Cosmo
, Tom Georgeson
, Heathcote Williams
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‘The Reckoning’ Is a Gripping Murder Mystery with a Top-Tier Cast
Based on Barry Unsworth’s novel Morality Play, the riveting murder mystery drama The Reckoning touts a star-studded ensemble cast led by Willem Dafoe, Tom Hardy, Paul Bettany, and Brian Cox and takes place in 1380 England where the young priest Nicholas (Bettany) breaks his vow of chastity with a married woman and flees the village, disgusted by the adultery he committed. Wracked with guilt over his sinful actions, Nicholas shuns the church and runs away in order to avoid facing the indignation of his fellow clergy and bishop, and he ultimately finds himself on the lam with a colorful group of traveling actors.
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After Nicholas witnesses the shocking mercy-killing of a troupe member, he is brought into the fold by their enigmatic leader Martin (Dafoe) and initiated as a player in their band of performers, which also includes the young and charismatic Straw (Hardy) and veteran actor Tobias (Cox). When the actors arrive in a village to perform their morality plays, they realize that a mute woman is on trial for the death of a boy and set out to prove her innocence by devising a performance that will explore the murder case. Naturally, the townsfolk and their residing Lord do not take kindly to the new arrivals, and chaos plagues the troupe.
‘The Reckoning’ Fails to Deliver at the Box Office
The Reckoning made its worldwide debut on August 6, 2003, and ultimately failed to leave a mark during its theatrical run, grossing just $257,252 and garnering a less-than-glowing response from critics upon its initial premiere. Despite its impressive screenplay, intriguing whodunit premise, and refreshing structure, the period drama received just a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score and 56% Popcornmeter, with many feeling as though director Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin, Sherlock) attempted to tackle too many conflicting elements and philosophical conundrums in its 112 minutes.
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One critic who commended the picture in their review was none other than famed Chicago Sun-Times writer Roger Ebert, who awarded the drama 3 out of 4 stars and singled out the exceptional cast performances and its many engrossing characters. The late and great critic agreed with his fellow peers that there was far too much emphasis put on the convoluted mystery the troupe attempts to solve, though he raved about how beautifully the medieval world was recreated and the overall ambiance of the compelling drama. Ebert wrote of The Reckoning:
“…it is refreshing to enter the rude poverty of the real Middle Ages, where both the peasant and his lord lived with death and disease all around, and trusted sorcery and superstition to see them through.”
Retrospectively, audiences will enjoy seeing some of Hollywood’s most celebrated performers showcase their dazzling range before they became the big cinema staples everyone knows them as today. Unsurprisingly, the seasoned Dafoe commanded every scene he was in and was called “invaluable in an enterprise like this” by Ebert, and the film also highlighted Bettany’s allure as a leading man and the undeniable talents of its decorated supporting cast members like Hardy and Cox. Detroit News wrote in their positive review, “An ambitious, energetic and wholly satisfying movie about the dawn of dramatic and personal freedom and much more.”
Dafoe and Hardy’s Exceptional Hollywood Careers
Though The Reckoning largely flew under the radar when it premiered over 21 years ago and has become an underrated murder mystery spectacle, the film’s stacked ensemble cast did not stay down for long and have each gone on to have decorated Hollywood careers. Willem Dafoe has continuously demonstrated his chameleon-esque acting skills by starring in a slew of acclaimed hits like The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Lighthouse, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Poor Things, with the Oscar-nominated movie star’s most recent performance in the horror remake Nosferatu taking the world by storm.
Similarly, Paul Bettany emerged as a sought-after silver screen favorite and has memorably portrayed Vision and J.A.R.V.I.S. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and appeared in an array of projects, including Legion, Priest, Uncle Frank, Here, and Disney+’s WandaVision. Tom Hardy was just 26 years old when he played Straw in The Reckoning, and in 2010, he skyrocketed to superstardom when he appeared opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception, a universally acclaimed Christopher Nolan masterpiece that helped pave the way for movies such as The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dunkirk, and the Venom superhero franchise. Rent/Buy The Reckoning on Apple TV+.
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