Ian McKellen says writer told him The Critic role was ‘best he’s ever written’

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As a movie enthusiast with a penchant for timeless performances and captivating narratives, I eagerly anticipate the release of “The Critic” starring the venerable Sir Ian McKellen. His portrayal of an erudite yet cantankerous London theatre critic in this melodrama set in the 1930s promises to be a tour de force.

This week, you can catch Sir Ian McKellen once more on the silver screen, starring in the latest emotional drama titled “The Critic.” In this film, he portrays an educated yet grumpy London theater critic who sets out on a malicious campaign of retribution, involving blackmail.

Patrick Marber, the author, praised it as an excellent role for me, even going so far as to say it was his best work yet. Given such high praise, I felt compelled to concur with his assessment.

As I delved into it, I found myself utterly engrossed by the narrative, though I must admit it struck me as somewhat implausible and overly dramatic. However, given its setting in the melodramatic 1930s, it’s not surprising that people acted in such extreme ways in politics and other areas during that time.

He added: “And then I began to see a way into why he behaves as he does. Being a gay man, he’s been abused by the laws of the land, and when he needs to take revenge on somebody, he turns into a bully himself. It’s a highly realised characterisation [and] great fun to play!”

In addition to the main actors, notable figures like Gemma Arterton, Lesley Manville, and Mark Strong are part of the film’s ensemble cast, each given substantial parts. Notably, Mark Strong expressed great joy at working alongside Sir Ian McKellen again, over thirty years after their previous acting partnership.

Strong, portraying a newspaper owner, commented, “He’s remarkable,” expressing his disagreement with McKellen’s character’s critically tough approach in the movie.

I had previously collaborated with him on a play; it was back in 1990 when he portrayed Richard III at the National Theatre. That means we worked together thirty years ago. Therefore, reconnecting with him felt effortless… You know, in this line of work, time apart doesn’t diminish the bond; meeting again feels like reuniting with family.

He added: “But acting with him… he is so mercurial. You can be looking at him one minute, his face is doing a certain thing, you look away for a second, come back and he’s almost a different person. He’s really… inspirational, is the word.”

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The Critic is now showing in UK cinemas.

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2024-09-13 17:05