Slashing through stereotypes

Slashing through stereotypes

Corvallis Gazette-Times

September 8,2006

‘Beowulf & Grendel’ achieves epic adventure without resorting to simplistic storytelling

By Theresa Hogue
The Entertainer

Heroes in epic poems are often terribly one-dimensional, as are the foes they face. Pure-hearted, filled with the knowledge that their cause is true (it must be, as might makes right) they slash through the dark hearts of their enemies with smoking blade and wide grimace.

So too is the supernaturally strong and true-hearted Beowulf of the eponymous poem that strikes awe into every young Lit major’s heart. When the brave and handsome hero hears that the King of the Danes has been dealt a terrible blow by a mysterious monster, he immediately takes it upon himself to seek out the foe himself and destroy it, despite the knowledge that the monster has killed scores of men with its bare hands.

And that’s where the poem and the new film, “Beowulf & Grendel,” start to part ways. Because for director Sterla Gunnarsson, nothing is as simple as good and evil, and no hero, however true of heart, can hack through that many enemies without a little tarnish. Nor is any enemy purely evil. In fact, more often than not, once the enemy tells its side of the story, black and white battles simply vanish.

Filmed in the starkly beautiful landscape of Iceland, “Beowulf,” stars dead sexy Scotsman Gerard Butler as the keen-eyed hero, and Ingvar Sigurdsson as Grendel, the troll of the tale. Our story begins in 500 A.D. when Grendel, as a young troll child, witnesses his father being killed by King Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgard) and his men. When Grendel grows up, he decides to seek out vengeance for the death of his father, and goes on a distinctly specific killing spree, his reasons a mystery to all save, perhaps, the King.

Meanwhile, never one to turn down a challenge, Beowulf and his trusty, lusty men set off for Daneland to try their hand at vanquishing the monster. But when they arrive at the King’s fortress, they discover that the troll doesn’t seem at all interested in fighting them. He’s too busy picking off Danes.

That’s when Beowulf starts to sense something’s not quite right in the state of Denmark. His suspicions are confirmed when the beautiful village witch, Selma (Sarah Polley) makes it clear that Grendel is as wronged as the Danes.

I had no idea how captivating Gunnarsson’s film would be, from the bewitching scenery which rivals the astonishing New Zealand landscapes of the “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, to the outstanding cast of actors, especially Sigurdsson, who is more poignant with his howls and garbled attempts at human speech than many Hollywood actors.

But what pleased me most was the complicated retelling of Beowulf, replete with the intricacies of revenge, right and retribution. What the film does best is to show how violence begets violence, how one ruthless or thoughtless act of cruelty can bear bloody fruit for generations. “Beowulf & Grendel” isn’t just about a man and a troll, it’s about the fallacy that evil can be conquered by the sword.

A terribly interesting subplot also plays out, one that focuses on religion and its ability to heal as well as to feed on fear. During the uproar Grendel creates, an Irish priest appears and attempts to convert the Danes to Christianity with promises of protection from the troll. Many Danes, including, eventually, the King himself, agree to be baptized by the priest in order to gain “protection,” only to learn that a cross and a prayer don’t matter to the angry troll.

The old religion of Odin and the gods is still strong among Beowulf and his men, but while they practice rituals with reverence, Beowulf’s take on the afterlife is as relaxed as his battle face is fierce. “I’ll go where I’m sent,” he replies, when asked whether he thinks about Heaven. In true warrior fashion, his fate, in the end, is never up to him.

When Beowulf finally completes his quest and heads home, there’s little triumph in the finishing of the task, although the group toasts to “The end of gloom.” Beowulf fears that instead of vanquishing a foe, he might have just twined his own fate into the ever expanding circle of violence that was set off long ago.

Theresa Hogue can be reached at theresa.hogue@lee.netThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or 758-9526.

‘Beowulf & Grendel’

Beowulf ............... Gerard Butler

Grendel ........ Ingvar Sigurddson

King Hrothgar ... Stellan Skarsgard

Selma .................. Sarah Polley

Equinoxe Films and Union Station Media present a film directed by Sterla Gunnarsson. Produced by Sterla Gunnarsson. Adapted for the screen by Andrew Rai Berzins. Photographed by Jan Kiesser. Edited by Jeff Warren. Music by Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson.

Running time: 103 minutes

Rated: R (for violence, language and some sexuality)

Playing at: The Pix Theater, Albany

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