As the friends sort out their differences, William's winnings afford them an increasing sense of freedom from eternal serfdom. Much of the fun of A Knight's Tale is in its simultaneous authenticity and loose-limbed quirkiness, best represented in the musical selections. While the Coens' veteran composer Carter Burwell provides a suitably glorious score to match the period settings, the temporal juxtapositions are the crowning achievement. Of course, none of this would fly if Helgeland and production designer Tony Burrough hadn't put their heads together to make this world feel remarkably real. From the tiny villages to the tournament sites, from massive cathedrals to old London, one would never guess how much time we're actually spending looking at the Czech Republic and CG mattes.
Every scene is plausible and impressive.
The only exception comes with William's quest for romance. Some knights just don't get it. That point aside, A Knight's Tale delivers more pageantry, countless humors, and grand, old-fashioned storytelling than just about anything you're likely to see this year. God save the Queen, indeed.