'The Uprising': A Medieval Revolt Drama Undone by a Robin Hood Twist

Paul Greengrass's medieval action drama "The Uprising" opens as a grounded account of England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt, a moment when economic upheaval and crushing taxes drove commoners to march on London. The film, starring Andrew Garfield as a nameless farmer known only as "Ploughman," captures the era's brutal physicality and the righteous fury of a population pushed to its limit.

The narrative follows Ploughman from his marshy homestead to the blood-soaked streets of the capital, where he joins real historical figures like rebel leaders Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis) and priest John Ball (Jamie Bell). The performances are strong, with Woody Norman portraying a mercurial teenage King Richard II and Katherine Waterston as his mother. Greengrass's signature handheld camerawork and unflinching depictions of violence root the story in the medieval muck, creating a visceral sense of desperation.

However, the film's power is undercut by a baffling narrative pivot. As the revolt descends into looting and chaos, Ploughman's arc takes an inexplicable turn, revealing him to be the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. This anachronistic twist clashes with historical chronology—the Robin Hood legends are typically set during the reign of Richard the Lionheart, nearly two centuries earlier. The transformation also feels unearned, turning a grieving philosopher-warrior into a cynical outlaw without logical character development.

Greengrass has said he was inspired by the societal spasms that followed the Black Death, drawing parallels to modern unrest. For much of its runtime, the film works as a populist scream against an out-of-touch aristocracy. But by grafting a mythic origin story onto a historical tragedy, the director deflates his own message. What begins as a powerful examination of economic justice and mob violence becomes a head-scratching exercise in cinematic overreach.

"The Uprising" is in theaters Friday. It is rated R for violence and bloody images and runs 127 minutes.