‘William Tell’ Review: Claes Bang Looks Heroic Enough, but the Character Hardly Feels Like Franchise Material
variety.comJ. Kim Murphy As Swiss legend goes, William Tell became a medieval folk hero when occupying Austrian militants forced him into a sick game: He was forced to fire an arrow into an apple atop his son’s head to save his family from execution.
It was a daunting task, but the warrior’s aim was true, inspiring a rebellion among the Swiss and, centuries later, everything from Gioachino Rossini’s iconic overture to a very funny “Far Side” comic.
With “William Tell,” producers hope that fable can spawn an action franchise as well. Debuting at the Toronto Film Festival, it’s a film driven by future-proofed storytelling, setting up an overwhelming sweep of characters over its plodding 133-minute running time, before culminating in a shameless sequel tease in its final image.
And yet, with a towering Claes Bang in the lead role and a dynamic supporting cast, it’s easier to swallow the notion of there being more Tell adventures to come.
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