THE CRITIC

Director: Anand Tucker
Starring: Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Romola Garai, Lesley Manville

The legendary Ian McKellen plays the kind of critic every actor hates in the aptly-titled new film The Critic. It’s London 1934 at a time when going to the theater was a formal affair where you dressed to the nines for a grand evening out. The local drama critic is feared and reviled as Ian McKellan’s character, Jimmy Erskine, details in the opening narration. He goes on to state that only the greats are remembered. The critic has the potential to make or break an actor’s career. Jimmy has had a long career at the Daily Chronicle newspaper, but the paper’s going through major changes. He’s been warned as his reviews are too brutal, too high brow, and don’t speak to the reader. His words cut deep insulting leading lady Nina Land (Arterton). She publicly confronts him over his insults and nastiness which leads to an unusual partnership between them. Jimmy is later fired after being arrested due to public indecency. That’s code for being gay. Jimmy and Nina get entwined in his messy attempt at blackmail and revenge for how he’s been treated by the public and the paper. In theaters

Here’s my review