Behind a cloud of cigarette smoke and in a drunken haze appears Sir Ian McKellan (Lord of the Rings), playing the despicable Jimmy Erskine in The Critic (2024). In this film, there is the mention of ‘more beauty, less beast’, which McKellan solemnly denies and goes full beast mode.
This character was cruel, conniving, and calculating. His acting made me really detest him, as by design, and often kept my attention caught. But outside of this stunning display of mental brutality?
Well, with a stellar cast including Gemma Arterton, Ben Barnes, Mark Strong and Alfred Ennoch, I had high expectations, especially with Barnes and Strong being two of my favourite actors. And please be assured, it is not the acting that lets this film down as the talent is clearly plentiful.
But alas, this film does seem tonally confusing. One moment I was laughing at the wit and banter that Erskine dishes out, and in other parts, it felt like yet another plot twist that didn’t quite have the same effect as the one prior to it. This film deals with theatre and manipulation, bringing a beautiful pre-show to the Me Too movement as well as touching on love and betrayal, however it falters slightly on the delivery.
There was also a hint of historically accurate homophobia which (as a queer person myself) really excited me in the trailer. And whilst this does make an appearance, it feels like another theme (or even gimmick) shoved into the jack in a box that is this film. And it will inevitably leave the audience a little unsure when it explodes.
This film did exceed in its costumes and sets, all of which felt rich and lived in. The score and included music seemed to head in a different direction to the story, but as stand alone pieces, they are beautifully composed to reflect the time and socio-economic status that revolves around these characters. I do really want to commend the use of silence too, especially in hard hitting moments. The cinematography felt really inclusive, effortlessly showcasing the scenes and sets that had been curated and drawing you into this world.
Given this film supposedly had multiple re-shoots and rewrites, I would have thought some of the story would be smoother. But it felt clunky. And the audience in the theatre reflected this, with members not quite being sure on when to laugh and when to stay quiet, myself included.
All in all, go for the loaded and talented cast, stay for the stunning sets and music, and then duck out early, because you can probably guess what happens once it gets up to a certain point.
Please check your local cinema directory for session details.
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
