LAST KNIGHTS
UK/ Korea, 2015, 115 minutes, Colour.
Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman, Cliff Curtis, Axel Hennie, Tsuyoshi Ihara.
Directed by Kaz I Kiriya.
Last Knights is something of a hybrid film. The director is from Korea, the finance from the UK, and the cast quite international. It was filmed in the Czech Republic?
With the popularity of Game of Thrones for several years, it was inevitable that stories in this vein would be filmed and produced to capitalise on the trend and popularity.
The film and its impact depend on the characters and performances rather than on the plot which is conventional enough. Morgan Freeman plays the dignified noble, Bartok, who is denounced by an effete and sinister minister, Geser Mott, played by Axel Hennie, who confronts Bartok and has him executed. The execution is to be performed by Bartok’s loyal military head and his designated heir, Raidan and, played by a very serious Clive Owen. Cliff Curtis appears as a loyal supporter.
The main part of the plot is Raidan and and his friends going undercover, pretending to have disbanded, Raidan in going back to drinking, their planning to stay this way until His Mott lowers his guard. Then there is an uprising and the final confrontation – more or less as expected.
1. The popularity of mediaeval stories? The atmosphere of Game of Threatens?
2. Coproduction, UK, Career, International cast? Check locations?
3. The recreation of the period, costumes and decor, castles, interiors, pomp and pageantry? Battles and fights? Audience interest in the mediaeval period and these kinds of games thrones? The musical score?
4. Morgan Freeman as Bartok, Lord, hero, his trust in Raidan, his benign rule? Geser Mott and his jealousy, the role of the Emperor, Geser Mott beating and humiliating him? Bartok’s reaction, accused of treason, the trial, the denunciation of Geser Mott? Raidan and the command that he should execute Bartok? His estate – and Bartok wanting Raidan and to be his heier?
5. Raidan, the troops, loyalty, the fights, the dilemma about the execution? Raidan and his reform from drinking, drinking again, the clashes with his wife, selling Bartok’s sword for drink, Bartok’s daughter in the brothel and his rejection? The links with his friends?
6. Geser Mott, his relationship with the Emperor, kowtowing to him? His own personal behaviour, as Minister, his lies, his defeat of Bartok, his fear of Raidan? Augustine, Ito, his servants, spies, his military, building up his own estate? His being on guard against Raidan?
7. The truth, Raidan and his men, covering, finally emerging when Geser Mott has lowered his guard? The aim of revenge?
8. The plans, intelligence, the links with Ito and Augustine? The Emperor and his attitudes and his decisions?
9. The confrontation, with Geser Mott? The deaths as the loyal soldiers invaded the estate? The character of Cortez, with Raidan and his hopes and arrangements?
10. The buildup to Geser Mott’s confrontation with Raidan? Raidan and the execution of Geser Mott? This being considered a crime? The penalty of death – but, the loyal soldiers, his wife, Raidan and his looking directly at the audience from the screen?
