Paul Greengrass, the acclaimed director behind the visceral ‘Bourne’ franchise, delivers a historical actioner, The Uprising, that attempts to connect the 1381 English Peasants’ Revolt to the enduring legend of Robin Hood. While the film aims for a potent populist message, warning against socioeconomic inequality and the excesses of the wealthy and powerful, its execution is a significant misfire. Instead of a rousing call to arms or a sharp critique of modern-day oligarchs and despots, Greengrass’s film devolves into a drab and tedious slog. The narrative, meant to be an origin story with clear intentions, suffers from a blunt-force delivery and a notable lack of nuance. Coupled with a muddled production design, The Uprising ultimately tests the audience’s patience, failing to capture the revolutionary spirit it seeks to portray and leaving viewers with a dull and downtrodden epic.
Adapted from: MovieWeb
