The Reckoning

We watched The Reckoning recently. I saw a trailer for it on another small film dvd, and thought it looked worth watching. It stars Willem Dafoe and Paul Bettany. Paul Bettany you may recognize as Dr. Maturin in Master and Commander.

Bettany plays a priest that is on the run for past sin. He comes across an acting troupe, led by Dafoe’s character. They come to a town, and end up putting on a play quite different from their normal, bible story acts. They instead tell the story of the murder of a young boy in the town, opening up what really happened to the boy, which turns out to be all rather involved and mysterious.

There is one scene that is a bit risque. Nothing explicit, really, but definitely more than suggestive. This is the second movie we’ve watched recently that has weird homosexual things going on in the story. This part is well done if you’re going to do it, but it does leave you a bit disturbed.

The title comes from a line of narration in the play,

Sin, in the beginning
may seem full sweet
but the reckoning comes
be you ever so fleet
That, I think, is the theme of the movie. Your sin will find you out.
I’m not satisfied with the ‘redemption’ of Bettany’s character (but I would say that he is redeemed in the end). It seems to be too self-reliant. But, I may be missing something on that, too. Also, I’m uncertain about his faith in the end.

There is one scene, at the climax of the story, which reminds me a lot of Collateral. Human desires, when left unrestrained, will lead to moral chaos. When God is not acknowledged as Law-Giver, then there will be only autonomy.

I guess after thinking a bit more purposefully about it, I think it probably is worth watching. It is profitable to work through the story and its themes.