Gibsons – Monday, September 7, 7:30 pm
Sechelt – Thursday, September 10, 2:00 pm
UK 2025, 100 min, Drama
Starring: Michaela Coel, Ian McKellen, Jessica Gunning
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Julian Sklar, a once-popular London artist nearing the end of his life, is convinced by his son and daughter to hire Lori Butler as his personal assistant. However, the siblings, played by James Corden and Jessica Gunning, have an ulterior motive in demanding that Lori, an accomplished artist with a gift for artistic mimicry, “finish” Julian’s series, the Christophers, so they can profit from the sale of the paintings after their father’s death.
Aside from the monetary aspect, Lori seeks some revenge for a bad review Julian had given her years before. As their relationship develops, so does a kind of friendship and mutual respect, with both providing some entertaining plot twists. Director Steven Soderberg delivers an engaging story with fine portrayals by Ian McKellan as Julian and Michaela Coel as Lori. Roger Ebert describes their respective performances as “stunningly good” and “mesmerizing.”