REVIEW: History Comes Alive in Paul Greengrass’ ‘The Uprising’

1381 was a pivotal year in English history. It was the year of the Peasants’ Revolt, also known as the Great Uprising. Led by rebel Wat Tyler, the peasants marched to King Richard II in hopes of ending the recently imposed Poll Tax, which was used to fund England’s failing war against France. This came as England was still reeling from the Black Death, which swept through the country in 1348 and killed nearly half its population.

Now, writer and director Paul Greengrass is bringing this pivotal moment to the big screen in his new film, The Uprising, but rather than telling the story through Tyler’s eyes, he focuses on a commoner named Ploughman, played by Andrew Garfield.

Greengrass’ take on the rebellion remains relatively historically accurate. The film opens as tensions are reaching a boiling point. Ploughman is in town trying to purchase feed to keep his farm afloat when we learn about the Poll Tax and the requirement for every eligible citizen to pay. When the King’s soldiers become increasingly invasive during their inspections, Ploughman finally has enough. He stands up to them, inspiring his fellow townspeople to do the same.

The problem is that there isn’t enough buildup to explain why the rebellion reaches this point. An additional five minutes establishing the commoners’ desperation and frustration would have made the uprising feel more earned. Fortunately, once the story gets moving, it rarely slows down. The twists come at the right moments, and Garfield is excellent as Ploughman. With little dialogue, he relies on his physical performance and expressions to convey the character’s emotions.

As the uprising grows, we meet rebel leader Wat Tyler, played by Cosmo Jarvis. Jarvis commands the screen and stands out among the film’s hundreds of extras. Jamie Bell joins him as priest John Ball, who rallies the commoners with the promise that God will grant them a miracle: King Richard II will hear their petition and meet their demands.

Greengrass does an excellent job balancing action and drama. The battle sequences are brutally bloody, perhaps more than I needed, but they effectively capture the violence and chaos of a rebellion.

It is toward the end that the film becomes a little muddled. While the historical elements remain relatively accurate, the fictional story begins to feel less focused. Is Greengrass telling the story of the Peasants’ Revolt, or is this slowly becoming a Robin Hood origin story? I’ll let you decide.

Regardless, The Uprising is an entertaining and well-paced historical drama. Garfield, Bell, and Jarvis are strong as the film’s rebel leaders, while Woody Norman is particularly effective as the young and naïve King Richard II. He creates a character you can’t help but dislike. Thomasin McKenzie and Katherine Waterston round out the cast as Alyce and Joan of Kent, respectively, with Waterston delivering one of the film’s standout performances.

The Uprising may not be a film you need to rush to the theater to see, but fans of historical fiction should find plenty to enjoy. If you can get through the somewhat rushed opening 15 minutes, you’re in for an entertaining ride—and you may even find yourself Googling the Peasants’ Revolt when it’s over.

Grade: B+