Andrew Garfield’s ‘The Uprising’ Has Critics on Rotten Tomatoes Divided Ahead of Its Theatrical Release

Andrew Garfield is stepping into one of the darkest periods in English history with The Uprising, but critics cannot seem to agree on whether the movie delivers on its big ideas. Directed by Paul Greengrass, the new historical drama looks at the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 instead of telling another traditional Robin Hood story. The result is a film that has impressed some reviewers with its performances and political message while leaving others frustrated by its style and character work.

The movie takes place in England after the Black Death has devastated the country. Ordinary people are already struggling, and the government makes things even worse by introducing new taxes. At the center of the story is Garfield’s character, a farmer known as Ploughman. He is dealing with personal loss when the growing anger around him eventually pulls him into a much larger fight against the people controlling the country.

Ploughman is not introduced as a natural revolutionary or a famous hero. Instead, he is an ordinary man who slowly becomes involved as tensions rise. He joins forces with Jamie Bell’s John Ball, a radical priest, and Thomasin McKenzie’s Alyce. Together with other rebels, they travel from Essex toward London, where they hope to challenge the powerful figures surrounding the young King Richard II.

That focus on ordinary people is one of the things that makes The Uprising different from the usual Robin Hood movies. The famous outlaw is not the center of this story. Instead, Greengrass is using a real historical event to explore anger over wealth, power and unfair treatment. The film clearly wants audiences to think about how those problems can build up until people finally decide they have nothing left to lose.

That message has also made the movie feel surprisingly modern. Garfield has spoken openly about the connection between the events in the film and today’s growing concerns about wealth inequality. During the movie’s press tour, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he hopes wealthy viewers, including billionaires, might feel uncomfortable when watching the story. “I hope that if any billionaires watch it, they come away genuinely rattled,” Garfield said.

While the film’s ideas have attracted attention, the response to Greengrass’s filmmaking has been much more divided. Some critics have praised the large-scale look at the rebellion and the intensity of the action. Others have found the movie difficult to settle into because of its fast editing and handheld camera style. Greengrass is known for creating a sense of chaos in his movies, but some reviewers feel that approach becomes tiring when used across a story that already has a lot of characters and events.

The performances appear to be one of the safer parts of the movie. Garfield has received praise for playing a character who does not always have a lot to say. Much of Ploughman’s emotional story is communicated through his expressions and actions, especially during his scenes with McKenzie. Their relationship gives the movie a more personal side and helps keep the huge historical events connected to individual people.

Woody Norman has also drawn attention for his performance as the young King Richard II. His character offers an interesting contrast to Ploughman. Both are placed in positions of leadership during a time of crisis, but they come from completely different worlds. Katherine Waterston has also been singled out by some critics for making an impression as Countess Joan of Kent despite having a smaller role.

The biggest issue for some reviewers is that Ploughman does not always feel fully developed. His grief and desire to do what he believes is right are clear, but critics have questioned whether the movie gives him enough depth to carry such a large story. That has contributed to the mixed reaction, with some viewers connecting strongly with him while others see him as more of a symbol than a fully formed character.

According to the current Rotten Tomatoes score cited ahead of its September 11 release, The Uprising sits at 50%, putting it almost exactly in the middle of the critical conversation. That makes the movie difficult to label as either a major success or a disappointment. It seems to be the kind of historical drama that audiences may argue about long after leaving the theater.

With a runtime of two hours and seven minutes and an R rating, The Uprising is clearly aimed at viewers looking for a serious and intense take on history. Whether Greengrass’s approach works will depend heavily on how much audiences enjoy the film’s rough visual style and political themes. One thing is certain, though: with Garfield leading a story about ordinary people rising against a powerful system, The Uprising is giving the Robin Hood legend a very different kind of treatment.

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