Movie Review: The Critic

 Movie Number 30 of 2024

The Movie: The Critic

The Cinema: Village Cinemas, The Rivoli

Stars: 4

After falling asleep at the cinema the night before, I wanted to redeem myself, and it being Grand Final day and Melbourne feels about as sleepy as a small country town (everybody seems to have gone away for the long weekend) it was a great day to go catch up on some movies. Also, as I'm only in town for two weeks before heading back to Darwin, I'm trying to get some culture in before going back in two weeks. 

And maybe I was feeling a bit nostalgic for an English film, with the announcement of the passing of Dame Maggie Smith (bless her acerbic wit). 

So, The Critic, it was, especially as it was on a pre-release showing. 

Sir Ian McKellen plays Jimmy Erskine, a powerful theatre critic in 1930s London. Flamboyant (read gay), somewhat acerbic (read cruel) and intelligent (read manipulative) his life is turned upside down when the media mogul who has been protecting him for most of his life up and dies, and his son David (Mark Strong) takes over. Jimmy is a bit of a bon vivant, having the services of his faithful 'secretary' Tom (Alfred Enoch)

After giving the actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton) a bad review, the actress, fearing a failing career, approaches the critic for assistance. 

Also, in the background, the embattled Nina has been in an affair with Stephen (Ben Barnes) who is married to David's daughter. 

It's all a bit incestuous. 

This has been pitched as a mystery and a thriller. I'd say it was more a melodrama. This lacked the tension of a good thriller, Yet, in saying that this is a very enjoyable movie. There's enough funny stuff to keep you amused, plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes and a brilliant showing of London in the 1930s. 

Sir Ian looks like he's having a great time. He even gets his 85-year-old nipples out in the bath. And the cast is a mix of some of England's finest actors. Romola Garai and Lesley Manville are also in the mix. 

The film is based on Anthony Quinn's book of the same name and the screenplay was penned by Patrick Marber, who was responsible for Notes on a Scandal and Closer. Anand Tucker's direction is assured - he does well with the historical genres as his direction of The Girl with the Pearl Earring  proves. 

My last thought is though this is publicised as a mystery and thriller, I think it sits better in the drama category. It's an enjoyable film with some of the best of British cinema out there touting their wares. Is it the best British film out there - no. But it is very enjoyable.

Today's song: