Paul Greengrass brings relentless intensity to a sprawling rebellion led by a commanding Andrew Garfield.
The Uprising is a brutal, gripping historical epic that rarely lets up. Paul Greengrass brings his signature urgency to the battlefield, while Andrew Garfield delivers an emotionally charged performance as a leader fighting for justice.
As war spreads across England, Garfield’s character builds an army of ordinary people willing to challenge the tyranny of King Richard II. What follows is a bloody struggle filled with political manipulation, personal sacrifice, and vicious medieval combat.
The movie is visceral, intense, and built for the big screen. Greengrass places the audience in the middle of each battle through shaky, grainy cinematography that makes everything feel immediate. Crowds form, bodies fall into the mud, and every swing of a weapon carries weight.
The camerawork occasionally makes the action difficult to follow. However, its rough presentation fits a story about people desperately fighting to survive. Nothing looks polished, heroic, or clean.
Andrew Garfield Commands The Uprising
Andrew Garfield carries The Uprising with a performance driven by anger, pain, and conviction. His character must inspire ordinary people to stand against a powerful king while accepting responsibility for everyone who dies in the process.
Garfield never presents him as an untouchable legend. He is a determined man who understands the importance of his cause but cannot escape its emotional cost. The growing weight of the rebellion remains visible even when he must appear fearless in front of his followers.
I wish I could say I have seen every Andrew Garfield project, but sadly, I have not. His performance here makes me want to revisit the movies I missed because he is so damn good.
Garfield can command a crowd without losing the vulnerability that has defined many of his best performances. He delivers the large speeches required of a historical epic, but his quieter moments are even stronger.
His character doesn’t simply stand behind the rebellion and send others into danger. He gets thrown into the mud, blood, and chaos alongside them. Garfield’s physical commitment helps sell him as someone people would willingly follow into battle.
Jamie Bell and Cosmo Jarvis Help Drive the Story
Jamie Bell and Cosmo Jarvis are great additions to the cast. Both actors bring important energy to the rebellion and help drive the story forward.
Bell is a major standout. His character adds grit, personality, and an unpredictable presence to the film. His scenes with Garfield are especially entertaining because the two actors match each other’s intensity.
Their pairing also comes with an interesting piece of superhero history. Bell was reportedly a top finalist to play Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man before Garfield ultimately landed the role.
Seeing them together adds a fun “what if” element for fans who remember the casting search. Thankfully, the connection never overshadows Bell’s performance. He creates a memorable character who feels essential to the rebellion.
Jarvis also fits naturally into Greengrass’ harsh depiction of medieval England. He has the rugged screen presence needed for this world and gives the film another compelling personality between its massive battle sequences.
Garfield may lead The Uprising, but Bell and Jarvis give the story much of its muscle.
Woody Norman Plays a Young King Losing Control
Woody Norman will probably receive some mild flak because of his character, but none of it should be directed toward his acting.
Norman does a great job portraying a young “baby” king who inherited enormous power after his father died. Richard may wear the crown, but the older and more experienced members of his inner circle recognize how easily they can manipulate him.
The people surrounding Richard use his position for their own gain. They influence his decisions, protect their interests, and make him believe he controls a system that is actually controlling him.
Norman captures Richard’s immaturity without making him feel like a joke. He is a child attempting to project authority while the adults around him continue pulling him in different directions.
Eventually, the pressure becomes too much.
Richard begins to snap when he realizes that being king does not mean everyone will obey him. His frustration turns into instability, and Norman takes the character into increasingly unhinged territory.
The character can be annoying and difficult to support, but that appears to be the point. Norman successfully shows what can happen when a child receives unlimited power without the experience or emotional maturity needed to handle it.
The Battles Are Bloody, Gory and Graphic
The Uprising does not hold back once the rebellion reaches the battlefield. The movie is bloody, gory, and incredibly graphic.
Anyone who enjoys brutal historical combat will get their fix through battles filled with slicing, beheadings and desperate hand-to-hand fighting. Greengrass does not frame the violence like a graceful fantasy sequence. Every confrontation is rough, scrappy, and exhausting.
Nobody looks invincible, and survival often comes down to who can remain standing for a few seconds longer.
The close camera work places viewers directly beside the fighters. Weapons fly past the frame, blood covers the battlefield, and bodies quickly pile up around the surviving characters.
Greengrass’ shaky style will divide audiences. The movement creates the fear and confusion he wants, but wider shots could have made some of the larger battles easier to follow.
Even so, the grainy cinematography prevents the movie from feeling overly polished. The Uprising treats war as a horrific experience instead of a heroic adventure.
The Uprising Struggles to Find Its Ending
The movie’s biggest issue is its pacing during the final stretch. The Uprising feels like it wants to end three different times.
I was not mad that it kept going because the story remained interesting. The movie also did not feel especially long while I was watching it. However, the plot continues much further than expected and loses some of its earlier momentum.
One particular moment could have served as the ending and created a natural setup for a second movie. Honestly, I would have been seated for The Uprising Part II.
Instead, Greengrass keeps the story moving toward a more complete conclusion. The additional scenes provide closure, but they also give the final act a stop-and-start rhythm.
Several moments carry enough emotional weight to close the film. When another chapter begins, the audience must readjust to a story that previously appeared finished.
The Uprising Review Verdict
The Uprising is a fierce and ambitious historical epic led by an outstanding Andrew Garfield. Paul Greengrass brings his signature urgency to medieval warfare, creating battles that feel chaotic, exhausting and frighteningly personal.
The Uprising opens in theaters on September 10.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
