William Tell

This is a surprisingly good adaptation of a play in which a cast of strong actors deliver the tale of Wilhem Tell, former crusader and now a common hunter in Switzerland during its occupation by Austria. The dialogue is Shakespearean in its craftsmanship, and the action is serviceable but not groundbreaking. It's perhaps the best medieval period film from this past year, and I look forward to seeing a sequel if they're able to make one.

Like the legend, only the part we know is interesting and the film definitely captures that iconic moment. And with so many well-budgeted historical fictions, especially in the last 5-10 years, we need a parade of poc actors and women wedged in for DEI points. It's well-filmed and the acting is fine, but you can't help but feel that Westerners can't even have their own history anymore without paying a DEI tax. Tell is an action-adventure make-over, light on any but the minimum of historical accuracy, with an amount of DEI that feels so 2020. Its formulaic and lacking any real statement about the event and why we still remember it. Bonus crap plot point, a muslim woman giving a battle speech to Swiss rebels. I often wonder if there are dudes watching historical fiction films in non-white countries, **** about all the white dudes who keep showing up in the story at odd places. I feel you, bro.