McKellen and Arterton Save “The Critic”

The Critic (Anand Tucker, 2023) 3 out of 5 stars

Ian McKellen, an acting giant of stage and screen, fills the shoes of Jimmy Erskine, a powerful 1930s London-based theatre critic in Anand Tucker’s new thriller, The Critic. McKellen’s Erskine is a man with flamboyant tastes who takes immense pleasure in savagely destroying any actor who miserably fails to meet his standard of quality. When the owner of the newspaper that employs Erskine passes away and is replaced by his son, the merciless critic finds his livelihood at risk. Seemingly out of any rational options, Erskine makes a Faustian pact with struggling actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton, Summerland), which entangles them in a complicated web of blackmail and betrayal.

The Critic’s screenplay, by Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal)—adapted from the novel Curtain Call, by Anthony Quinn—is at its strongest when it revels in hilarious and biting banter from McKellen’s stuffy critic character. The insults Erskine hurdles at Land are nothing short of breathtaking and side-splittingly funny. The relationship of the artist and the critic is a relationship that isn’t explored enough in film. Pixar’s Ratatouille is still a shining example of this concept from beginning to end.

While the film boasts extremely charming and witty dialogue in its first half, the far more typical crime thriller takes over and the narrative begins to take the safe path until the end of its runtime. The second half is only bearable thanks to the undeniable chemistry of McKellen and Arterton. Nowadays, it’s a delight to see Arterton pop up in projects that are better in line with her talents. Fans of hers will remember when her career blew up in 2010 with the abysmal one-two punch of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Clash of the Titans.

If you’re looking for a film that features two powerhouse actors that you didn’t know you wanted to star together, then The Critic is a perfect option. The discourse is quick and never fails to punch you with a good dose of mean-spirited humor. And while that quickness slowly fades away and is replaced with a passable crime story, Ian McKellen and Gemma Arterton are more than qualified to get you through it to the end.

Patrick Howard

Patrick Howard has been a cinephile since age seven. Alongside 10 years of experience in film analysis and criticism, he is a staunch supporter of all art forms and believes their influence and legacy over human culture is vital. Mr. Howard takes the time to write his own narrative stories when he can.