The Critic is a 2023 British period thriller film directed by Anand Tucker and written by Patrick Marber, based on the 2015 novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn. The film stars Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai, and Lesley Manville.
The Critic premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2023, and was released in the United Kingdom by Lionsgate on 13 September 2024.[4][5][6][7]
Plot[]
Set in 1934 London Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is the film critic for The Chronicle, a tabloid newspaper now owned and run by Viscount David Brooke (Mark Strong) after the death of his father. Erskine delights in writing vitriolic reviews of plays that he believes fall short of his high standards, despite requests from Broke to tone it down.
After Erskine and his secretary and lover Tom Turner (Alfred Enoch) are arrested for homosexuality Brooke dismisses him, along with other older employees. Erskine plots his revenge by persuading Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), a young actress, to enter a Faustian plot whereby she would seduce Brooke, who is already in love with her, in return for future glowing reviews. Erskine then blackmails Brooke into giving him his job back. When Brooke discovers that Land is also the lover of Stephen Wyley, his son-in-law (Ben Barnes), Brooke kills himself.
Driven by guilt for her part in this plot a drunk Land visits Erskine who, concerned that she will reveal the truth, drowns her in a bath. Erskine then persuades Turner to help dispose of the body and when discovered she is presumed to have committed suicide.
Finally Turner visits The Chronicle’s new owner, Brooke’s widow, and confesses. Erskine is arrested and jailed.
Cast[]
- Ian McKellen as Jimmy Erskine
- Gemma Arterton as Nina Land
- Mark Strong as David Brooke
- Lesley Manville as Annabel Land
- Romola Garai as Cora Wyley[8]
- Ben Barnes as Stephen Wyley
- Alfred Enoch as Tom Tunner
- Nikesh Patel as Ferdy Harwood
- Jay Simpson as Slyfield
- Claire Skinner
- Rebecca Gethings
Production[]
It was announced in November 2020 that Colin Firth, Gemma Arterton, Simon Russell Beale and Paapa Essiedu were set to star in the film, at the time titled Curtain Call like the source novel, with Anand Tucker directing and Patrick Marber writing the screenplay.[9] By February 2021, filming was expected to begin later that year.[10]
In June 2022, the film was retitled The Critic, with Firth, Beale and Essiedu no longer involved. Ian McKellen, Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, Romola Garai, Ben Barnes and Alfred Enoch were announced to be joining Arterton, and production began in London.[11] In July 2024 it was announced that the film will released in UK cinemas on September 13, 2024.[12]
Reception[]
In the US Rotten Tomatoes reports a 43% approval rating from 47 critics, with an average rating of 5.8/10.[13][14] Template:Metacritic film prose[15]
In the UK The Guardian gave the film three stars for "a devious Ian McKellen anchors uneven thriller". [16]
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ The Critic (15) (August 14, 2024).
- ↑ The Critic (2023).
- ↑ The Critic – Financial Information.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-07-24). TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders Dumb Money, The Holdovers, Rustin; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More.
- ↑ Ntim, Zac (4 June 2024). Lionsgate UK Acquires Ian McKellen Thriller 'The Critic'.
- ↑ Greenwich Entertainment Acquires Period Thriller 'The Critic' Starring Ian McKellen (18 July 2024).
- ↑ THE CRITIC, Starring Ian McKellan, Lands North American Release Date.
- ↑ The Critic (2023) - IMDb.
- ↑ Colin Firth And Gemma Arterton To Star in Curtain Call (13 November 2020).
- ↑ Curtain Call: Colin Firth-Gemma Arterton Drama Pre-Sells To Germany, Italy, Lat Am, More (22 February 2021).
- ↑ Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, Ben Barnes & More To Star In Period Thriller The Critic (27 June 2022).
- ↑ Greenwich Entertainment Acquires Period Thriller 'The Critic' Starring Ian McKellen (18 July 2024).
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Wd". The Critic (in en). Fandango Media.
- ↑ The Critic.
- ↑ The Critic.
- ↑ "The Critic Guradian review".