The Critic (2023) Review

London 1934, film critic Jimmy Erskine has a lot of power over the West End with his rather harsh reviews. Targetting actress Nina Land, everything is about to get rather messy as he fights for his job creating a deceitful web of lies.

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It seems as though in 1930s London that everyone pretty much knew each other and that is the theme that certainly runs through the core of the film and attempted plot twists which I can’t really credit to be full twists as we can guess what is going to come next.

Jimmy is not really all the likeable but we somehow quite respect his attitude towards not caring what anyone thinks, even when that put his life at risk with his homosexual acts due to that being illegal at the time. He certainly pushed things and putting young Thomas in danger with it as well, a young man who did nothing but help Jimmy in all possible ways.

Then we have Nina Land who was attempting to become a successful actress but was destroyed by the cutting reviews that Jimmy would have published about her, she wanted nothing more than to prove him wrong and get a good review. He even ends up helping her, well in a fashion more manipulated her to be able to get what he wanted! This included the mixture of her lover and his father-in-law which I guess was not really an area we expect it to go in, but never mind.

The Critic had quite a time of actually getting a release after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, and going through reshoots after the reactions to the film. Which just make me wonder what that film was like as this finished release does feel a little disjointed at times and has quite a few different plots that don’t really merge together very well. Not really a massive surprise, just rather disappointing given the talented cast we have on display.

Ian McKellen is fantastic still though in this rather villianous role and seems to be having such a fun time with it all. It was actually great to see Ben Barnes back on the big screen as well after an absence, Alfred Enoch was given some good moments as well. Gemma Arterton also continues to impress me with the different type of roles she takes on.