[FILM REVIEW] THE CRITIC Review (2024)

October 6, 2024October 6, 2024 Dave Aired Enoch, Aisling Longshaw, Albie Marber, Alex First, Anand Tucker, Avye Leventis, Beau Gadsdon, Ben Barnes, Cara Ballingall, Central Coast Radio, Claire Skinner, Colleen Neary McClure, Debra Gillett, Ed Madden, Elarnor Wyld, Eva Magyar, Gemma Arterton, Griffin Stevens, Ian McKellen, Jacob James Bewwick, Jake Neads, Jasper Britton, Jay Simpson, Joe Coen, Lesley Manville, Libbi Fox, Louis Peris, Magnus Gordon, Mark Strong, Matthew Cottle, Nicholas Bishop, Nikesh patel, Oliver Shaw, Patrick Marber, Pearce Quigley, Rebecca Gethings, Romola Garai, Ron Cook, Ross Armstrong, Shanika Ocean, Subculture Radio Show, The Critic, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, Tom Rouvray, UK, USA

Summary: A powerful London theater critic becomes entangled in a web of deceit and murder.

Year: 2024

Cinema Release Dates: 3rd October 2024 (Australia), TBA (Thailand), 13th September 2024 (UK), TBA (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: UK, USA

Director: Anand Tucker

Screenwriter: Patrick Marber

Cast: Ross Armstrong (Oswald Mosley), Gemma Arterton (Nina Land), Cara Ballingall (Daphne), Ben Barnes (Stephen Wyley), Jacob James Beswick (Robbie), Nicholas Bishop (Richard Pugh), Jasper Britton (Giedon Lambert), Joe Coen (Brachiano/Orsino), Ron Cook (Hugh Morris), Matthew Cottle (Graham Meadows), Alred Enoch (Tom Turner), Libbi Fox (Diana Guiness), Beau Gadsdon (Freya Wyley), Romola Garai (Cora Wyley), Rebecca Gethings (Joan Harris), Debra Gillett (Mrs. Keefe), Magnus Gordon (Gasparo/Sebastian), Avye Leventis (Lizzie Stage Manager), Aisling Longshaw (Cornelia), Ed Madden (Ivan Franklin), Eva Magyar (Dolly Langdon), Lesley Manville (Annabel Land), Albie Marber (Lennie), Colleen Neary McClure (Wanda), Ian McKellen (Jimmy Erskine), Jake Neads (Flamineo/Fabian), Shanika Ocean (Zanche), Nikesh Patel (Ferdy Harwood), Louis Peris (Doctor Julio), Pearce Quigley (Mr. Morrisey), Tom Rouvray (Giovanni), Oliver Shaw (Rowan Wyley), Jay Simpson (Slyfield), Claire Skinner (Mary Brooke), Griffin Stevens (Lodovico), Mark Strong (David Brooke), Eleanor Wyld (Isabella/Viola)

Running Time: 101 minutes

Classification: M (Australia), TBC (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)

OUR THE CRITIC REVIEWS

Kyle McGrath’s THE CRITIC Review

Kyle’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s THE CRITIC Review

What weight should one assign to the critic? Enormous, if there is any truth to what is contained in this searing period drama cum thriller.

We are in London in 1934.

For 40 years, Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) has been the chief drama critic of The Daily Chronicle newspaper.

Arrogant and entitled, he is noted for his poisoned pen, which he wields as a sword of honour.

Such is his power that he can make or break careers.

Jimmy is gay, drinks like a fish and has a young male assistant, Tom (Alfie Enoch).

An actress who has been trying to win his favour for a decade is Nina Land (Gemma Arterton) and yet inevitably she has merely received his vitriol.

After yet another scathing review of her latest performance, her mother Annabel (Lesley Manville) encourages Nina to confront Jimmy in person, which she does.

Then, on the eve of another show opening, in which she is the lead, Nina is a nervous wreck and asks Jimmy for advice.

Little does she know it, but in time he will use their association to instigate a notorious plan, for, in the background, The Daily Chronicle is undergoing change.

The former owner, who first employed Jimmy, has passed away and his son, David Brooke (Mark Strong) has assumed control.

Brooke is out to reinvigorate the paper and Jimmy is far from safe because of the venom in his writing and the way he conducts himself personally.

When Jimmy appears cornered, he uses Nina, who is desperately chasing fame and acclamation, in a sordid game that will have dire consequences.

The Critic is a reimagining of Anthony Quinn’s novel Curtain Call.

It is a compelling piece of work, written by Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal) and directed by Anand Tucker (When Did You Last See Your Father?).

It is very well written and executed.

A strong sense of exploitation is its stock in trade. It deals with picking soft spots and turning the screws to breaking point.

It reminded me of the quote attributed to 19^th century British politician Lord Acton, namely “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

Ian McKellen delivers one of the performances of his long and storied career. As Jimmy, he is expressive and vituperative, seemingly with an answer for everything.

Gemma Arterton is demonstrative as Nina Land. She is vulnerable and driven to succeed at all costs.

I appreciated the production values and period detail in The Critic, in which the tangled web of deceit and blackmail makes for thrilling entertainment.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other The Critic Reviews

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