Critic. From the Latin “criticus” meaning “a judge”. There are a few things more hurtful than being judged and few people capable of hurting an artist more than a critic. Personal attacks, unfair observations and unreasonable standards. You know what they say, opinions are like arseholes…
Speaking of which, Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is THE dramatic theatre critic for family run London newspaper, The Daily Chronicle. It is the mid-1930s and Jimmy is treated like a god, a refined but vicious and lustful so called gentleman dubbed ‘The Beast‘ for his cruel reviews and their impact. For 40 years, his readers have adored him for his scathing tongue while his targets have feared his judgement. But his goose might be cooked when the newspaper is inherited by David Brooke (Mark Strong) who intends to “trim the fat” to increase productivity. David is a respectable man who is a fan of theatre himself, but Jimmy won’t go down without a fight.
Enter stage left the beautiful Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), a struggling yet beloved stage actress desperate for Jimmy‘s approval above all else. Happy to impart his wisdom on the poor girl at first, he soon sees an opportunity present itself; a very special role for Nina to play which will see Jimmy directly benefit. Because to Jimmy, all the world is a stage and all its people merely pawns in a show for him, even if that show turns into a story of deceit, blackmail and murder.
Loosely based on the 2015 novel Curtain Call by author Anthony Quinn, The Critic is directed by Anand Tucker and written by Patrick Marber. Loosely based, as besides many character names, the film has very little to do with Quinn‘s book. However, this allows for a fascinating story of greed and selfishness based around a truly great performance from McKellen.
The Critic explores a wide range of aspects of high society in 1930s London. Homophobia, people’s desire to be seen as righteous and upstanding but drawn by their impulses, and most of all, power. Holding onto power, the fear of losing power and the weakness of those without it. Also, the control that someone holds over another human being who looks up to them and how a cruel person can exploit that control to suit their own ends.
The supporting players serve their roles well if hampered a little by lack of development. Arterton is as endearing in the film as her character Nina Land is on stage. A determined yet fragile woman living her life the way she wants but is at risk of exploitation as many young actresses were at the time, and honestly still are today.
Mark Strong, as always, is great playing the “stiff upper lip” side of British society. He’s likeable and an element of decency is always noticeable, even when this tragic story shows him succumbing to temptations.
But Ian McKellen is clearly the star here with Jimmy being really the one fully explored character of the piece. McKellen reminds us once more that while generations may have grown up seeing him as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, he is capable of playing one HELL of a bastard. Jimmy isn’t simply bereft of kindness and at one point acts as a mentor to Nina. The thing which makes him such a vile beast however is that when it comes down to it ,he is the most important person in his own life and his solipsism allows him to sink to depths that others would never dream of.
The lack of that same exploration of the film’s other characters, however, leaves The Critic feeling a little unbalanced. Nina is so quickly placed under Jimmy‘s thumb that it’s rather an unsatisfactory corruption. Also, the coincidences stack up and every character seems unrealistically connected to every other character in some way. Perhaps a casualty of the film’s troubled release.
When The Critic premiered at 2023’s Toronto International Film Festival it was met to scathing reviews which led to reshoots. This is readily apparent in order to give the movie a more palatable after-taste, although the result is a rather bland one. Things seem tacked on and are, at times, left unexplored or expanded upon like they should be. What at first is building as a dark exploration of the corrupting nature of power is instead wrapped up in a nice little, disappointing bow.
Overall, The Critic is an entertaining and theatrical tale of Machiavellian schemes and the tolls they take on the innocent. Sir Ian McKellen is as brilliant as ever and elevates the film with help from his talented co-stars. I just wish I had a chance to see it in its unmolested 2023 form. It’s a sad irony that this movie, considering its story, feels like it has been warped beyond its own nature to appeal to the very media critics whose corrupting power it sought to explore.
The Critic is in cinemas from October 3rd.