THE NORTHMAN is directed by Robert Eggers. The film stars Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Bjork, and Willem Dafoe.
In the year 895, Prince Amleth finds himself an orphan when his uncle murders his father, claiming the throne for himself. Amleth retreats to strengthen himself, vowing one day to return to avenge the former fallen king. Befriending and falling for a slave, Amleth serves his uncle in servitude while plotting his revenge all the while. But will his plans succeed, or will there be unforeseen complications?
THE NORTHMAN is dark, gritty, bleak, and desolate. With R-rated violence and its gripping character study of a man’s single-minded pursuit of revenge, it’s certainly not for the squeamish. But it’s a master work of cinema with fantastic casting, beautiful cinematography, and some unexpected plot twists that caught even this moviegoer off guard on more than a few occasions.
The first thing you’ll notice about THE NORTHMAN is it’s a beautiful film. From gorgeous sprawling meadows to desolate caves and the insides of Viking dwellings, everything that unfolds on the screen looks fantastic. You could pause any frame of this movie, hang it on the wall, and you’d have a work of art. The movie looks that fantastic from its cinematography and production angles.
What’s especially surprising here is that the film itself is every bit as good as the production and the cinematography. Alexander Skarsgard is brilliant as the older version of Amleth, sticking to his boyhood vow of revenge against his uncle, but the cast also includes the likes of Nicole Kidman as his mother, and the beautiful Anna Taylor-Joy in one of her best performances to date as Olga, the slave and love interest of Amleth in whom he fines a connection and the potential through which to regain his humanity. Supporting parts from the likes of Bjork and Willem Dafoe speak for themselves, further painting a picture of this desolate yet beautiful setting.
There are surprises around every corner in THE NORTHMAN; the film isn’t just all flash and great actors and actresses. One of the places the movie hit me hardest was with a handful of plot twists that completely caught me off guard. THE NORTHMAN is one of those rare “perfect storm” scenarios on the big screen where all the elements come together perfectly. It’s admittedly a bit overlong and has a few too many characters and plot points, but these issues are easy to forgive. It comes highly recommended, but it’s certainly not for the squeamish!
By Taylor T Carlson
Taylor T Carlson Assistant Editor/Senior Staff Writer Taylor T. Carlson was born August 17, 1984, and has called the Vegas Valley home his entire life. A die-hard fan of classic rock and metal music, Taylor has been writing album and concert reviews since he was 16 years old, and continues to do so, having done well over 1,000 reviews. He is also a fan of video gaming and cinema, and has reviewed a number of games and films as well, old and new alike. His thorough and honest (some would say brutally honest) reviewing style has won him the respect of hundreds of music fans and musicians alike, both local and abroad, and the ire of just as many others. Despite being one of the youngest attendees at classic hard rock/metal shows around Vegas, he is also one of the most knowledgeable, having gained the unofficial nickname of “The Eddie Trunk of Las Vegas.” In addition to reviews, Taylor has written and self-published three books on classic hard rock bands, and is a regular participant in rock and roll trivia contests. Taylor also holds a masters degree in special education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), and has appeared on the hit History Channel television series Pawn Stars. His dream is to be able to one day make a living from writing music books and reviews.