Published by:
Giles

THE CRITIC

Friday January 10th. Set against the backdrop of pre-war London in the 1930s, "The Critic" is a captivating exploration of power dynamics, ambition, and the harsh realities of societal intolerance.

Β£5 in advance or on the door. Doors open 7pm. Film starts 7.30pm.
Starring Ian Mckellan and Gemma Arterton.

Jimmy Erskine is the most feared and famous theatre critic in 1930s London, saving his most savage takedowns for Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), an already unsure leading lady. He takes pleasure in ritually tearing her down, a practice that has further eroded her fragile sense of confidence. As a gay man forever at the mercy of laws that prohibit his very existence, Jimmy is living life on the edge, indulging in rough sex in the park with strangers while showboating his flamboyance in writing. But when his newspaper’s proprietor dies and his son (Mark Strong) takes over, Jimmy is told to be careful, to avoid falling foul of his new boss by cutting down on the cattiness and when his job security becomes even more precarious, he’s forced to turn to Nina for help. (Guardian).

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"The Critic" is a Chilling Descent in Moral Chaos - Bohemia Magazine
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For my money, this is an assured film, nicely directed by Arnand Tucker and hauntingly photographed by David Higgs. It would, of course, have been great fun to lay into this with a hatchet (oh, the irony!) but, annoyingly, I find myself completely unable to do so. The Critic is, in my humble opinion, an absolute delight - Bouquets and Brickbats
Ambition seduces; power corrupts.