The Uprising

Shrinking its chronological and geographical gaps, The Uprising takes place more than seven centuries ago yet carries a haunting relevance today.

A contemporary political thriller masquerading as a bleak and brutal historical epic, this stirring saga from director Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips) draws parallels between the Peasants Revolt of 1381 and the unease triggered by the rise of 21st century populism.

Despite an uneven script, the film is visually striking while retaining its intensity and urgency throughout. It salutes the power of grassroots protest, although in this case the motives are more righteous than the methods.

The setting is practically dystopian, given the barren landscapes of 14th century England, where survivors of a devastating plague must deal with an oppressive authoritarian regime and a widening socioeconomic divide.

The story is told primarily from the perspective of Ploughman (Andrew Garfield), a farmer who causes a public skirmish with a tax collector demanding payment from folks who don’t have it. Eventually, a working-class coalition is formed, with an impulsive and quick-tempered priest (Jamie Bell) and ex-soldier (Cosmo Jarvis) as its galvanizing leaders.

They draft a list of demands and seek an audience with King Richard II (Woody Norman), a timid teenager who rules with his mother (Katherine Waterston) by his side. Richard defers to members of his self-serving, power-hungry council for all policy decisions.

Sometimes the dialogue is too on-the-nose. “You need to rise and defend your kingdom from these deplorables,” a handler implores Richard.

As the rebellion grows, the more outrageous the royal demands, the more violent the pushback. The government fractures and the situation descends into anarchy and bloodshed. Meanwhile, the commoners’ resolve is tested by greed, deception, betrayal, false hope, moral corruption, and the quest for control.

An embellished compilation of facts and folklore, the screenplay by Greengrass chronicles a power struggles fueled by intriguing geopolitical dynamics and distrust. However, it lacks sufficient depth to more specifically define these people and their cause — on both sides of the conflict.

The castle-storming sequence and its immediate aftermath is particularly thrilling, and the film struggles to sustain that same momentum afterward. Garfield provides an even-keeled emotional anchor.

As a cautionary tale about ideological zealotry and the price of freedom, the fact that The Uprising is not more persuasive as a call to action is probably a good thing.

Rated R, 128 minutes.