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Genius

  • 20162016
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, and Laura Linney in Genius (2016)
Trailer for Genius
Play trailer1:56
6 Videos
36 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama

A chronicle of Max Perkins's time as the book editor at Scribner, where he oversaw works by Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others.A chronicle of Max Perkins's time as the book editor at Scribner, where he oversaw works by Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others.A chronicle of Max Perkins's time as the book editor at Scribner, where he oversaw works by Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Grandage
  • Writers
    • John Logan(screenplay by)
    • A. Scott Berg(based on the book 'Max Perkins: Editor of Genius' by)
  • Stars
    • Colin Firth
    • Jude Law
    • Nicole Kidman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Grandage
  • Writers
    • John Logan(screenplay by)
    • A. Scott Berg(based on the book 'Max Perkins: Editor of Genius' by)
  • Stars
    • Colin Firth
    • Jude Law
    • Nicole Kidman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 76User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 6 nominations

    Videos6

    Genius
    Trailer 1:56
    Genius
    Genius Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Genius Official Trailer
    Genius
    Clip 1:24
    Genius
    Genius
    Clip 1:13
    Genius
    Genius
    Clip 0:32
    Genius
    Genius
    Clip 1:13
    Genius

    Photos36

    Guy Pearce in Genius (2016)
    Dominic West in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Jude Law in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Laura Linney in Genius (2016)
    Nicole Kidman in Genius (2016)
    Nicole Kidman and Jude Law in Genius (2016)
    Laura Linney in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Jude Law in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Jude Law in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Jude Law in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Jude Law in Genius (2016)
    Colin Firth and Jude Law in Genius (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Colin Firth
    Colin Firth
    • Max Perkinsas Max Perkins
    Jude Law
    Jude Law
    • Thomas Wolfeas Thomas Wolfe
    Nicole Kidman
    Nicole Kidman
    • Aline Bernsteinas Aline Bernstein
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Louise Perkinsas Louise Perkins
    Guy Pearce
    Guy Pearce
    • F. Scott Fitzgeraldas F. Scott Fitzgerald
    Dominic West
    Dominic West
    • Ernest Hemingwayas Ernest Hemingway
    Vanessa Kirby
    Vanessa Kirby
    • Zelda Fitzgeraldas Zelda Fitzgerald
    Gillian Hanna
    Gillian Hanna
    • Julia Wolfeas Julia Wolfe
    Angela Sant'Albano
    Angela Sant'Albano
    • Bertha Perkinsas Bertha Perkins
    • (as Angela Ashton)
    Eve Bracken
    Eve Bracken
    • Zippy Perkinsas Zippy Perkins
    Katya Watson
    • Jane Perkinsas Jane Perkins
    Lorna Doherty
    • Peggy Perkinsas Peggy Perkins
    Makenna McBrierty
    • Nancy Perkinsas Nancy Perkins
    Miquel Brown
    • Eleanor, Perkins' Maidas Eleanor, Perkins' Maid
    Corey Johnson
    Corey Johnson
    • John Wheelockas John Wheelock
    Lucy Briers
    • Miss Wyckoffas Miss Wyckoff
    Harry Attwell
    Harry Attwell
    • Assistant Editoras Assistant Editor
    Ray Strasser King
    • James, Mailroom Clerkas James, Mailroom Clerk
    • (as Ray Strasser-King)
    • Director
      • Michael Grandage
    • Writers
      • John Logan(screenplay by)
      • A. Scott Berg(based on the book 'Max Perkins: Editor of Genius' by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    When, one day in 1929, writer Thomas Wolfe decided to keep the appointment made by Max Perkins, editor at Scribner's, he had no illusions: his manuscript would be turned down as had invariably been the case. But, to his happy amazement, his novel, which was to become "Look Homeward, Angel," was accepted for publication. The only trouble was that it was overlong (by 300 pages) and had to be reduced. Although reluctant to see his poetic prose trimmed, Wolfe agreed and was helped by Perkins, who had become a true friend, with the result that it instantly became a favorite with the critics and a best seller. Success was even greater in 1935 when "Of Time and the River" appeared, but the fight for reducing Wolfe's logorrheic written expression had been even harder, with the novel originally at 5,000 pages. Perkins managed to cut 90,000 words from the book, and with bitterness ultimately taking its toll, the relationships between the two men gradually deteriorated. Wolfe did not feel grateful to Perkins any longer but had started resenting him for owing his success to him. —Guy Bellinger
    • novelist
    • editor
    • book editor
    • writer
    • novel writing
    • 34 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Max Perkins discovered Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. But he never met anyone like Thomas Wolfe.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and suggestive content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A. Scott Berg's biography "Max Perkins: Editor of Genius", on which the film is based, won the National Book Award in 1978.
    • Goofs
      Maxwell Perkins tells Thomas Wolfe his book needs a new title that will appeal to potential purchasers, and gives the example of F. Scott Fitzgerald changing the title of a novel from "Trimalchio in West Egg" to "The Great Gatsby." The real Perkins, as Fitzgerald's editor, certainly would have known that "The Great Gatsby" was a flop upon its release in 1925 and did not sell well until the 1950s.
    • Quotes

      Aline Bernstein: I don't exist anymore. I've been edited.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jude Law/Keri Russell/Fall Out Boy (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Flow Gently Sweet Afton
      (Sottish traditional)

      Composed by Jonathan E. Spillman

      (1873)

    User reviews76

    Review
    Top review
    Observe a great editor work with a great writer.
    "O lost, and by the wind grieved, ghost, come back again." ― Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel

    Max Perkins (Colin Firth) was the genius Scribner's magazine editor, who helped Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Wolfe become iconic American writers. The watchable Genius, directed by Michael Grandage with a sure understanding of drama, is mostly Thomas Wolfe's (Jude Law) story. The taciturn Max provides the necessary guidance to make sure the book belongs to the writer while Max delivers "good books into the hands of readers."

    Although the film is engrossingly placed in Perkin's pv, Wolfe dominates through his exuberant personality and unending energy. While Firth plays Perkins as the conservative but imaginative editor, Law is the reason to see the film, a brilliant acting turn reminiscent of his over-the-top Dom Hemingway. Law simply has never been better than as Wolfe.

    The sepia look of the film is appropriate to the 1929 setting of NYC, and Nicole Kidman as his other muse, Aline Bernstein, is memorably smart and vulnerable when it comes to dealing with manic Wolfe. Although Laura Linney as Louise Perkins is lost in spotty, low energy appearances, her general good cheer carries nicely for a Perkins of whom the audience has grown fond.

    Because I am always seeking a biography that will show the creative labors of artists, Genius satisfies me when Perkins and Wolfe struggle over the manuscripts. After experiencing Genius, I have seen two sterling examples.
    helpful•49
    10
    • jdesando
    • Jun 21, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 2016 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Daho
    • Filming locations
      • Didcot, Oxfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Desert Wolf Productions
      • Michael Grandage Company
      • Riverstone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,361,045
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $98,274
      • Jun 12, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,435,006
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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