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The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

100 Movies of 2021

2021

Will Sharpe

Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones ...

6.0

925

Drama Biopic of the prolific English artist who rose to prominence at the end of the 19th century.

	Media	Author	Review
		Peter Debruge Variety	"The romance feels genuine — indeed, the fumbly, rule-bending bond between the two characters is the best thing about this odd little movie"
		Fionnuala Halligan Screendaily	"The film tries out several visual looks, wandering tonally through its own aesthetic maze (...) It’s impossible to deny Sharpe and Cumberbatch’s audacious risk-taking"
		Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"[It] gets lost in mannered performances (...) This is a strained film, overwhelmed with self-consciousness at its own unearned period-biopic prestige (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"
		Anna Smith Deadline	"Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy and a cast of cats make an irresistible combination (...) [Will Sharpe] makes witty, poignant work of the story of English painter Wain"
		Leah Greenblatt Entertainment Weekly	"'Louis Wain' works so hard to avoid a certain brand of bland Wikipedia storytelling that it threatens to topple under the weight of its own strident originality instead"
		Manohla Dargis The New York Times	"Louis is a funny, complicated character, and while the movie could have expanded its horizons (...) Cumberbatch fills in this expressionistic portrait exquisitely."
		Stephen Farber The Hollywood Reporter	"[It] will divide audiences. Excellent lead performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy bolster the uneven film (...) and its enchanting visual style also helps to compensate for some self-indulgence in the screenplay"
		Peter Martin Screen Anarchy	"It's all a valiant effort, and there's nothing particularly wrong about the film, even if it never feels vital or vibrant. It's a poignant story"
		David Ehrlich IndieWire	"'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' is the kind of film in which every new bit of flair calls further attention to the weak foundation underneath"
		Monica Castillo The Wrap	"This amusing retelling of Wain's life is a way to introduce his quirky illustrations to a new generation, putting them in a new light that's more in line with the irreverent and animated creatures Wain once imagined years ago"
		Gregory Ellwood The Playlist	"A misfire that even a plethora of adorable kitten co-stars can’t save."
		Nell Minow rogerebert.com	"'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' has the same problem as its real-life subject, in that it goes off in too many directions at once (…) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"
		John Serba Decider	"[It] is the most mixed of mixed bags, and your mileage may vary. But I found its loose and lively jazzlike stylings slightly more invigorating than aggravating."
		Siddhant Adlakha IGN	"For a story about an artist’s perspective, 'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' rarely translates its ideas about artistry into something visual or dramatic. However, Benedict Cumberbatch injects life into an otherwise straightforward biopic"
		Stephanie Zacharek Time	"Though there are patches that are sad to watch, it is for the most part a delight, a biopic that brings its subject to life in a way that’s both respectful and open-hearted."
		Mae Abdulbaki Screen Rant	"The film is a whimsical, warm, captivating, and tonally uneven story about the illustrator (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"
		Hanna Flint Time Out	"A dry wit echoes throughout but 'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' is not without sincerity too. The film is well-paced and performed (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Amon Warmann Empire	"Too often 'The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain' favours eccentricity over actual insight. But even when the tones jar, Cumberbatch's vulnerable, layered performance always rings true (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"

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