Saturday 5 November 2016

Genius (2016 Michael Grandage)

'Red Pencil' might have been a better title for talky drama about Tom Wolfe and his literary agent, a curiously English project for such American subject matter, with English stage director and actors (both Jude Law and Colin Firth's accents seemed forced). With Nicole Kidman and Laura Linney, plus Guy Pearce, Dominic West and Vanessa Kirby again (Me Before You).

Good acting, quite interesting on creative process and book editing, but subject a little dull and unsympathetic. Intriguingly raises the question as to which is the genius - the writer or the editor.

I wish they'd show credits at the beginning of films - I would have paid more attention to the editing, it being Chris Dickens. Shot in a Hoppery style by Ben Davis in Panavision (Kick-Ass, Tamara Drewe, Doctor Strange, Stardust).

The fate of traduced F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda is sad indeed. Best bits are with Firth's family. A bit of a lumpy film, really. The writer was John Logan, who contributed to both Spectre and Skyfall, wrote The Aviator and adapted Hugo.

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