A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Christophers”. (2026, 3.5*, 15).
A Happy Birthday to Sir Ian McKellen who turns 87-years-old next Monday. Never one to put his feet up, McKellen is still following a gruelling schedule of filming: currently he is out in New Zealand for three months reprising Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum”, currently pencilled for release next year. Here, in simpler fare, he glitters with rascally joy in “The Christophers”: a never less than interesting new offering from the ever-busy (ex-retired!) Steven Soderbergh.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Julian Sklar (Sir Ian McKellen) is a famous artist whose best work is behind him. He is famed for two series of paintings called “The Christophers”. But his scheming children, Barnaby (James Corden) and Sallie (Jessica Gunning), are aware that there is a third, unfinished, series of “Christophers” locked away in Julian’s loft rooms. They hire renowned ‘restorer’ Lori Butler (Michaela Coel) to ‘finish’ the paintings in his style for monetary gain.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Very strong language”.)
Talent:
Starring: Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, James Corden, Jessica Gunning
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh.
Written by: Ed Solomon.
Running Time: 1h 40m.
Review:
Positives:
- McKellen and Coel. Sir Ian absolutely sparkles in his role: roguish, irreverent, rascally, twinkly…. just magnificent. He dismisses lightweights like Andy Warhol! Coel is also impressive: as well as being a fantastically beautiful woman – that chiselled face is amazingly expressive – she acts really well in this. This is a far better performance, I think, than her recent turn in “Mother Mary“.
- The script is tight and quite claustrophobic, being mostly set inside of Julian’s house such that this would also make a cracking stage play. But that doesn’t detract from it being a witty and intelligent movie that gives you much to ponder on. Who are the heroes and who are the villains? Lori (Coel) is our view into the story, but she is a forger and a swindler: are we complicit in rooting for her in her criminal behaviour?
- The production design for Julian’s house(s!) (“other door”, LOL) is magnificent. This feels like a property that Julian has lived in, through good times and bad, for 40 years.
- Soderbergh, who is the DP as well as the director, uses some interesting techniques. In one scene, where Julian and Lori are conversing in his studio, all the talking is by Julian in a fuzzy foreground, with the camera focused on Lori – standing several feet away – for her reaction. It is only when Lori exits stage right that the focus zaps beck onto McKellen’s face for a rascally chuckle!
Negatives:
- Corden and Gunning…. Tweedledum and Tweedledee. They feel like they belong in a completely different film. Although not dialled to 11, as they can sometimes be, the performances feel shrill and annoying. Corden, whose schtick, I know, winds some viewers up something rotten, increasingly feels more of a liability to a film’s cast than an asset.
- There are a few clumsy elements to the plot. Did Lori really think she could creep into an old man’s house at night and not risk facing Julian, not least for his probably regular micturition-visits? This whole part of the storyline felt improbable and her access to the Christophers needed some alternative ruse: slipping the masseuse a few quid to spend an extra half hour with him, for example.
Summary Thoughts:
A really solid and enjoyable film with great lead performances: myself and the Illustrious Mrs Movie Man enjoyed this cinema date very much. But in terms of “re-watchability” I decided on a 3.5 star rating rather than 4 stars, but it was close.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2d1x7VuDmo.
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