Doctor Strange

Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange is an above average popcorn picture. The role of the doctor is Sherlock redux for Benedict Cumberbatch: a brilliant and arrogant rationalist (in this case a brain surgeon) who lacks any form of empathy. A car accident robs the Doc of his surgical skills, but a mysterious sage, a perfectly cast Tilda Swinton, gets him in touch with his hidden superpowers. Swinton and Cumberbatch have a good rapport and it is a credit to the film that their relationship and not the CGI is the most exciting thing in it.

Swinton's sage bring the Doc's ego down a notch or twelve, whilst freeing him from the tyranny of Western mind/body dualism. Mads Mikkelsen and Rachel McAdams, superb performers both, are largely wasted as "the villain" and "the girl". Ben Bratt and Chiwetel Ejiofor fare better. Director Derrickson's background is in horror and he keeps the pace brisk. (6/17/17)