Ian McKellen and Lesley Manville’s “wonderful” period thriller has just landed on Netflix

by

The period thriller The Critic, known for its exciting plot and starring Ian McKellen and Lesley Manville, is now available on a new streaming service in the UK. The film features a talented cast and showcases McKellen playing a particularly cunning character.

I recently watched this movie from 2023, and it’s based on a book called Curtain Call from 2015. It stars Ian McKellen as Jimmy Erskine – he plays this really sharp-tongued theatre critic in 1930s London, and let me tell you, he doesn’t pull any punches with his reviews!

After his position at a major newspaper is jeopardized, he joins forces with actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), who has been the target of especially harsh reviews from Jimmy.

Even though they don’t trust each other, Jimmy and Nina team up to blackmail Viscount David Brooke, who is mourning his father’s death. Both of them stand to benefit from the scheme, but will they be able to hold up their part of the deal?

The period thriller, directed by Anand Tucker and written by playwright Patrick Marber, is now streaming on Netflix in the UK. It was added to the platform this morning.

What to Read Next

The film’s cast features Alfred Enoch, Ben Barnes, Nikesh Patel, and Romola Garai, alongside the previously mentioned actors. Manville plays the role of Arterton’s mother, Annabel, in the movie.

After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023 and being released in theaters a year later, the film The Critic received mostly mixed reviews from critics.

Rotten Tomatoes reports a 51% approval rating for the film, based on 94 reviews. Critics particularly praised Ian McKellen’s charming and cunning portrayal of the theatre critic.

Film Threat praised the show as a high-quality drama, particularly highlighting Ian McKellen’s performance. They also noted Gemma Arterton’s excellent portrayal of an actress battling her own inner struggles and insecurities.

In a similar vein, The Guardian praised Ian McKellen’s performance, noting that while the initial energy of the production might wane, McKellen’s enjoyment of playing a villain kept the show engaging. They described him as captivating in every scene.

According to TheWrap, Ian McKellen delivers a captivating performance, making his character both awful, relatable, and incredibly fun to watch. They state that once McKellen takes on the role, critics can only offer their full approval.

The Critic is streaming now on Netflix.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a vibrant, full-colour 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

Read More

2026-04-08 10:19