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)
at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
  • High Time
    Blake Edwards' High Time  is a simple minded Bing Crosby vehicle that Edwards transforms into a pop tone poem of color and music. The st...
  • Squeal
    Algars Vilims and Kevin Janssens Aik Karapetian's Squeal , currently streaming on Tubi, is the most interesting and impressive film I...
  • The Cabin in the Cotton
    Richard Barthelmess and Bette Davis            Michael Curtiz's The Cabin in the Cotton is one of the more under rated American films of...
  • The Wet Parade
    Dorothy Jordan, Robert Young, and Walter Huston Victor Fleming's The Wet Parade  is a mediocre melodrama based on a then recent novel by...
  • Outcome
    Keanu Reeves and Jonah Hill Jonah Hill's Outcome is a toothless Hollywood satire destined for obscurity. Keanu Reeves stars as Reef Hawk...