The King - slow, beautiful and compelling!

Rating: 7/10 (22 November 2019)

This Netflix adaption, based on Shakespeare's "Henry V", follows a reluctant Prince's ascension to becoming King Henry V of England, where he strives to unify the country and resolve domestic difference's, and ultimately lead his united country to victory in France, claiming the French crown.
The musical score, and TimothÃ©e Chalamet's "Hal / King Henry", are both dark, brooding, slow and intense. The movie echoes the same feeling, building slowly until the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
The cast are superb throughout, (Robert Pattinson as the Dauphin is hilarious!), and the dialogue is excellent, not a word is wasted. The movie does have a slow pace to it focusing often on Henry's isolation at the top, and at times gets a little bit lost whilst trying to maintain thoughtful tension, which comes across as a little flat.
However, the camera work, and production quality do make up for any shortcomings, and what you are looking at is a work of art.