The Northman

Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Gutav Lindh, Elliott Rose, Willem Dafoe, Bjork
Directed by: Robert Eggers
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A Viking prince (Alexander Skarsgard) returns to his homeland to avenge the murder of his father.

Review:

Tim: After delivering a haunting, exceptional experience in The Lighthouse, everyone was excited to see what Robert Eggers would do next. Choosing a Viking revenge epic seemed like a brilliant choice. The trailers looked incredible, showcasing Eggers' distinct visual style and an absolutely ripped Alexander Skarsgard. I certainly went into The Northman expecting greatness. The reviews backed that up. I really enjoyed the movie, absolutely. However, it felt like it was just a bit overrated by critics. It's absolutely good, exceptionally well made. However, it pulls too many punches. It tries to shock with its violence and occasional gore, but underneath the stylish surface, it's not nearly as deep as it thinks it is. I'll try to balance my review here because it's definitely an effective movie, a win for Eggers, and further evidence he's one of the most unique, visionary directors working today. However, I also have to admit I'd hoped the movie would be even better than it was.

The story itself felt a bit too familiar. As this was based on epic stories from the past, you could argue that it was stories like this that influenced all the ones we're familiar with. Still, I can't say there were many surprises when it came to the story. It felt like we'd seen this before. I give Eggers credit for making what many claimed to be the "most accurate" viking movie ever made. That was impressive- the attention to detail, the historical accuracy, the simplicity of the sets- it's all quite beautiful. The movie deserves a ton of credit for the technical aspects and I could see it being nominated for a slew of technical awards. That's definitely the film's strength. The visuals are occasionally stunning and the movie itself looks like nothing else. Eggers' unique visuals are another incredible feat here. I have zero complaints about that. For me, what pulls the movie below greatness is that the story, the characters, don't live up to the technical brilliance in bringing this movie to life. So, while I applaud that aspect of the film and bow down in awe at some of Eggers' visuals, I never cared as much about what was happening. The film definitely is eye-catching, but it doesn't quite penetrate to the heart.

The cast is good, but I have to admit I had hoped for better performances. Alexander Skarsgard gives a strong performance in the lead- how he transformed himself physically for the role was astounding. I loved the look of him in the early scenes, it was brutal, shocking, violent. His physique was perfect for the role and Eggers lets us know that. Then, though, it disappears and he's saddled with an absurd haircut for most of the movie. I get the choice here, but it takes this brutal viking warrior and it destroys that image. It seemed like a bad call to me. Anya Taylor-Joy is good as always, but it felt like she didn't get quite enough to do. She's an exceptionally talented actress and I'd hoped to see more screen time, more depth from her character. She exists too much on the margins. Nicole Kidman gives a strong performance and was definitely one of the stronger parts of the film. I enjoyed Ethan Hawke's performance and I wish we had more time with him. Claes Bang was effective and memorable, although I wouldn't quite call his performance "great". I loved seeing Willem Dafoe here, but his role is pretty small. While the cast don't all get to give great performances, it's an especially strong pool of talent.

I certainly liked The Northman a lot. I loved the visuals (as I've said). The problem for me is that I never really cared about the characters. It felt like we knew exactly where they were going and how everything would end up. Eggers mostly keeps his characters on this expected path, with only slight surprises coming here and there. The movie is never boring, but it felt a bit long at 2 hours, 17 minutes. The story didn't have the heart nor the emotional resonance to keep us invested for that long.

I certainly appreciate Robert Eggers and I hope he continues to take big swings like this. He doesn't seem like the kind of director who will play it safe. Not every swing will result in a home run. You take a look at The Lighthouse, a movie that probably shouldn't have been as amazing as it was. You marvel at what Eggers was able to do there, you're mesmerized by the performances and broken by the story. That's greatness. This movie has some of those elements, but it doesn't quite all come together in the way it needed to. That takes nothing away from The Northman, a unique, memorable film. I enjoyed this greatly and while it likely doesn't make my top 10 of 2022, it's an effective, entertaining, impressive film. It further cements Eggers as a must-see director and I can't wait to learn what he does next.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
The Witch, The Lighthouse