THE CRITIC Trailer (2024) Gemma Arterton, Ian McKellen

THE CRITIC Trailer (2024) Gemma Arterton, Ian McKellen

THE CRITIC Trailer (2024) Gemma Arterton, Ian McKellen, Mark Strong
© 2024 - Transmission Films
"You're a maniac with a death wish!" "I'm a critic! I have power and influence." True Brit Ent. has revealed an official trailer for an intricate, indie thriller titled The Critic, made by filmmaker Anand Tucker. Not to be confused with Tarantino's project also titled The Critic, which is no longer in development anyway. This film first premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival and it also played at the British Film Festival. It's now set for its UK debut in September. The Critic is a deliciously dark & sharp-witted thriller, written by Patrick Marber and featuring an all-star British cast including Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai, and Lesley Manville. Wow. Set in 1930s London, revolves around a feared theatre critic named Jimmy Erskine, his loyal assistant, a newspaper owner who wants to get rid of the critic and an actress who has been devastated by the excoriating theatrical reviews. The critic's determination to survive ensures that all of the other characters are caught in a web of blackmail, deceit and murder. Sound like something clever and entertaining? You'll have to watch to find out what happens next.

Here's the official UK trailer (+ teaser poster) for Anand Tucker's film The Critic, direct from YouTube:

The Critic Poster

The Critic is a deliciously dark and sharp-witted thriller set in 1930s London. When the most feared and vicious theatre critic in town Jimmy Erskine (McKellen), finds himself suddenly in the cross hairs of the Daily Chronicle’s new owner David Brooke (Strong), he strikes a sinister Faustian pact with struggling actress Nina Land (Arterton) who is desperate to win his favour. The Critic is directed by the international writer / filmmaker Anand Tucker, director of the films Saint-Ex, Hilary and Jackie, Shopgirl, When Did You Last See Your Father?, Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1983, plus lots of TV work including episodes of the series "Rogue" and "Indian Summers" most recently before this. The screenplay is written by Patrick Marber. Based on the novel titled "Curtain Call" by Anthony Quinn. Produced by Bill Kenwright and Jolyon Symonds. This initially premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last year. True Brit Ent. will debut The Critic in select UK cinemas starting on September 13th, 2024 later in the year. Who wants to watch this?
True Brit Entertainment launches the official trailer for The Critic, which debuts in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 13th September.

Based on Anthony Quinn’s novel Curtain Call, The Critic is adapted by Academy Award nominee Patrick Marber (Closer, Notes on a Scandal) and directed by Anand Tucker (Hilary & Jackie, Shopgirl). The film is produced by Jolyon Symonds for Fearless Minds and Bill Kenwright’s BK Studios.

Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) 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, 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’s family values by cutting down on the cattiness. When his job security is threatened, he hatches a devious plan, setting off a chain of events with terrible consequences.