William Tell Review: I Wanted To Connect With This Historical Epic, But The Movie Buckled Under Its Own Ambitions

Most audiences have, at least tangentially, come into contact with the legend, play, or overture that inspires the new historical epic, William Tell. Set in the early 1300s in Switzerland, William Tell follows its title character, played by the grim and gritty Claes Bang, as he leads the fight against the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. Boasting a strong ensemble cast with Ben Kingsley, Connor Swindells, and Golshifteh Farahani in supporting roles, William Tell has to move quickly to capture the ups and downs of its timely story. Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep up.