This is not going to be an objective review by any means: I am a cat lover (my female cat Lisbeth is like my daughter to me), a Claire Foy lover and a Benedict Cumberbatch fan. And this movie has this three elements firing on all cylinders all the time. I was expecting this movie to be good, but not to be so much more moving and invigorating.
Truth be told: the first half with Foy and Cumberbatch (with a special entrance by Peter) is the best part. It is funny, poignant, romantic, human and beautiful. The second half may not resist the runtime that good: when Cumberbatch is with Foy the screen and their chemistry fully ignites, and that intimacy is sorely missed in the later half. But Wain´s illness and how Cumberbatch plays his final days make up for a heartfullly teary, satisfying ending.
Do not miss the first part of the credits and pay respect and admiration to the real paintings of this legendary artist. Life is hard and incredibly unfair, but also good, funny and surprising; it takes to reach out to that great moments even when the crisis, the olding and the illness come all together -just like Emily tells Louis-. And this movie shows it wonderfully. Probably it is a bit flawed (like life itself), but beautiful performances by Cumberbatch and Foy, a stunning directorial style and the right amount of heart makes this biopic one that has to be seen, so one that makes justice to its characters. Prepare to be surprised.
