The best critic on film was George Sanders in “All About Eve.”
Droll, conniving and always witty, he helped stir the pot and put the wheels of drama in motion.
Since then, films have tried to capture the job (believe me, it’s not that complex) and failed. “America’s Sweethearts,” a Billy Crystal venture with Julia Roberts tried but fell flat.
Gemma Arterton and Ian McKellen star in "The Critic."
Now, there’s “The Critic,” a seemingly juicy look at a 1930s newspaper critic starring Ian McKellen.
McKellen is perfect in the role, particularly when he’s sitting at his typewriter trying to control the fortunes of London’s stages.
But when the drama veers into murder it wanes. Largely, that’s because McKellen’s character, a crusty tabloid journalist whose fortunes could be affected when a new owner comes in, isn’t kept front and center.
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Instead, he’s an accomplice once the plot thickens and Gemma Arterton takes over. She’s an actress who hasn’t exactly wowed the ink-stained wretches. But, if she helps McKellen’s character, he’ll maybe even praise her.
Directed by Anand Tucker and written by Patrick Marber (who’s usually good at these things), “The Critic” becomes a thriller that isn’t exactly as billed. A relationship fuels plenty of backstage chatter, but the critic is so crippled by his own shortcomings it becomes a battle of wills and, ultimately, a story that isn’t about the titular character.
Alfred Enoch, left, plays assistant to Ian McKellen in "The Critic."
When it was originally announced, “The Critic” was called “Curtain Call” and that was a more fitting title. “The Critic” implies more than it offers.
When McKellen is crafting his poison pen notes to actors, the film crackles. He would be so good in a film worthy of the title. But when he gets involved in an odd relationship drama (that leads to death), the film betrays its star.
Mark Strong, Lesley Manville and Alfred Enoch figure in, too, but the desire to squeeze this into “All About Eve’s” corner is too obvious.
When Enoch’s character looks at McKellen’s, it isn’t just telling. It’s a spoiler alert.
Enjoy the first minutes of “The Critic” (if you must) but know there’s more skullduggery afoot than this even hints at including.
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller
Movies in a Minute: "Flow"
Movies in a Minute: "Last Breath"
Movies in a Minute: "Captain America Brave New World"
Movies in a Minute: "Heart Eyes"
Movies in a Minute: "Flight Risk"
Movies in a Minute: This Oscar season, musicals are "pop u lar!"
Movies in a Minute: "Wolf Man"
Movies in a Minute: "Better Man"
Movies in a Minute: "Babygirl"
Movies in a Minute: "The Brutalist"
Movies in a Minute: "Nosferatu"
Movies in a Minute: "A Complete Unknown"
Movies in a Minute: "Nickel Boys"
Movies in a Minute: "Moana 2"
Movies in a Minute: "We Live in Time"
Movies in a Minute: "Smile 2"
Movies in a Minute: "Saturday Night"
Movies in a Minute: "Joker: Folie `a Deux"
Movies in a Minute: "Megalopolis"
Movies in a Minute: "Transformers One"
Movies in a Minute: "Speak No Evil"
Movies in a Minute: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"
Movies in a Minute: "Reagan"
Movies in a Minute: "Blink Twice"
Movies in a Minute "Alien: Romulus"
Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us"
Movies in a Minute: "Trap"
Movies in a Minute: "Deadpool & Wolverine"
Movies in a Minute: "Twisters"
Movies in a Minute "Maxxxine"
Movies in a Minute "Despicable Me 4"
Movies in a Minute "A Quiet Place: Day One"
Movies in a Minute: "Thelma"
Movies in a Minute: "Inside Out 2"
Movies in a Minute "Bad Boys: Ride or Die"
Movies in a Minute: "Jim Henson Idea Man”
Movies in a Minute: "Summer Camp"
Movies in a Minute: "The Blue Angels"
Movies in a Minute: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"
Movies in a Minute: "The Fall Guy"
Movies in a Minute: "Challengers"
Movies in a Minute: "Abigail"
Movies in a Minute: "Civil War"
Movies in a Minute: "Monkey Man"
Movies in a Minute: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire"
Movies in a Minute: "Late Night With the Devil"
Movies in a Minute: "Snack Shack"
Movies in a Minute: "Cabrini"
Movies in a Minute "Dune: Part Two"
Movies in a Minute: "Drive-Away Dolls"
Movies in a Minute "Bob Marley: One Love"
Movies in a Minute: "Lisa Frankenstein”
Movies in a Minute: “The Greatest Night in Pop”
Movies in a Minute: "Poor Things"
Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller
Movies in a Minute: "Mean Girls"
Movies in a Minute: "Anyone But You"
Bruce Miller is editor of the Sioux City Journal.
