Realizing the daring youth must prove he is of noble birth to enter jousting contests, Chaucer agrees to provide forged documents in return for food and clothing. Chaucer also advises William about romance. In addition, the poet instructs William how to talk to Jocelyn, even giving him quotes from the Bible. But he fails at teaching the ambitious young man to dance. A similar melding of modern music and attitudes with medieval customs continued to delight me throughout this spirited movie.
Ledger s appealing performance is another of the film s many treats.
And, best of all, like Monty Python s Black Knight, he convinced me his character wouldn t quit, no matter what. I had a great time cheering William on, even while laughing at his social weaknesses. Verily, I m a sucker for movies about knights and their ladies. Films like Prince Valiant and Camelot are among my favorites. It s true.