Movie Review: ‘The Critic’

By John Thomas

Caustic, vitriolic theater reviews are what he loves to write and for what he is best known. Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is the most popular influential writer in the 30s London theater scene. He’s proud of the fact that he can create a theater star or crush one with his words printed in the Daily Chronicle.

He lives a lavish lifestyle, has a handsome male assistant and is recognized by members of London’s upper class. All his fame and notoriety could come to a screeching halt, though, with the death of his publisher.

His new boss, David Brooke (Mark Strong), is the son of the late publisher and demands Erskine tone down his reviews, make them less hateful. Should he choose not to, the alternate is... One colleague has already been let go but that’s not going to happen to Erskine.

While he’s scheming to avoid dismissal from the Chronicle, a young, yet seasoned actress appears at his home. She waits for him to leave then follows him down the street for a public confrontation. Nina Land (Gemma Arterton) stops him on the sidewalk and demands to know why he consistently ridicules her performances, comparing them to acts of farm animals, criticizing her voice and excessive arm waving. He’s infuriated, denies everything and storms off.

One thing the imperious Erskine never considered was the possibility of being arrested for his nocturnal clandestine acts performed in the darkness of parks and public restrooms. Yet, one night he and his assistant were, and are shuttled off to jail.

An attorney for the newspaper rescues the two and escorts them from jail to Brooke’s office. This time Erskine is dismissed. He is not terribly concerned as he is quick in forming a scheme to seek revenge and his reinstatement at the prestigious Chronicle.

In earlier discussions with Brooke, Erskine discovers that his boss has been infatuated with Land for a long time, attending many of her performances. Erskine meets with Land and coheres her into seducing the married-with-family Brooke. In exchange Erskine will begin writing glowing reviews of her performances.

The seduction takes place with much success. Erskine later meets with Brooke and threatens to expose his extramarital affair if he is not rehired at the Chronicle – threatening blackmail. His plan is successful, he is rehired. But that reinstatement doesn’t last long. Brooke commits suicide and a new boss takes over, Brooke’s young daughter. She has different eyes on the situation.

Having had way too much to drink one evening, Land visits Erskine expressing her guilt over her part in the demise of Brooke. She feels terrible and doesn’t know what to do. That’s not a problem for Erskine, he knows exactly what to do.

With the help of Turner, the problem is solved al least momentarily. Someone else feels guilt and shame at the recent events and reports to the police.

Directed by Anand Tucker (Credits: Gothica, Leap Year), “The Critic” runs 101 minutes and is a “should see” for sinister murder plots blanketed in elegance. Premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

Category:

Beachcomber

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