The Critic 2023/2024 by AverageMansReviews

The Critic 2023/2024 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: there is flashing effects/colourful effects/shooting/suicide/drowning/references to homosexuality, racism and sexual assault

The Devil of the Chronicle: basically; we meet Jimmy Erskine [Ian McKellen:] he is the Chief of Drama at the tabloid known as The Daily Chronicle; where he critiques Theatre productions in London; his opinion/words carry a lot of weight and he is all so a practising homosexual which in 1937 is illegal. So after being caught practising his sexuality, he is terminated from his position at The Daily Chronicle by David Brooke [Mark Strong:] he has taken over from his father running the tabloid and looking to push out the old guard of the tabloid. So Erskine decides to take what he has learned from the world of theatre and use it in the real world; he knows of this leading lady Nina Land [Gemma Arterlton:] this state performer has been unmercifully criticised by Erskine for a decade, she agrees to walk with him, because in return his glowing words will open doors for her.

Generally speaking: the framework and pacing of this 101 minutes film is good; to begin with it is solidly good, after it finds its swing it does get quicker.

Art; the wardrobe, set designs and so on and so forth are smartly executed to bring this period in time to live.

Character developments and performances; the character developments are good versions of what they are meant to be, but now for a little bit more substance into this content. It is all down to this cast; to give this period drama life; throughout there is good chemistry; spearheaded by McKellen [when this film was first released he was roughly 84 years old, but now 85 years old as of this content:] with his performance he clearly shows that even at his advanced stage of life, he can still pull out these masterful performance as Erskine; he is the puppet master; if he wants something from you is; you are his puppet and real life is his stage.

This film receives: 8/10, this film is excellent; if you are a fan of McKellen you must see this film preferably in the cinema. I am just extremely disappointed that when this content was first created there is no signs of accredited awards which as I have just illustrated is extremely disappointing. On a quick side note: I hope Sir Ian McKellen is back to full strength nowadays, because he was in the theatre production of Player Kings earlier this year as John Falstaff, in fact I had tickets to see him perform, but however days before this performance he accidentally fell off stage whilst performing [don't worry he is still with us and made a speedy recovery] but he was advised to take some time off and just for the record yes I still went to the show and yes if you are into Shakespeare this too is  worth a watch as it is based on Henry IV Part I and Part II.