The Christophers

As the film starts, an art conservator (Michaela Coel) is hired by the offspring of a famous artist (Ian McKellen) to access the remaining titular paintings in his attic. From his first moment, McKellan exhibits the charismatic power and utter delight that’s made him so enduring. He’s continually entertaining and funny. As his complete opposite, Goel manages to hold her own in what is basically a two-hander. Adding to the dark comic elements are the greedy children, beautifully smarmy James Corden and Jessica Gunning. Steven Soderbergh wrote and directed under his name, while shooting as Peter Andrews and editing as Mary Ann Bernard. His complete control allows for this intimate, mature, entertaining film, while poking some fun at the art market. Not only one of McKellan’s best performances, but one of the year’s best.

Artists – Creative minds brimming with inspiration: that flash of inspiration for artists, triggered by a spark. Artists depend on inspiration. But – what happens when an artist’s private life influences their creative work? Their private life and their own thoughts can become a source of creative block. Julian Sklar, a well-known English artist, is unable to complete his world-famous series of paintings, ‘The Christophers’. Something is holding him back. His money-hungry children seem unimpressed by this fact. They hire the artist Lori Butler. Not only is she a huge fan of Julian’s, but she can also imitate his style to a tee. There are two options left: either convince Julian to let her help him finish the paintings as his assistant, or finish the paintings herself. Overall, Julian is more notable for his rejection of his own art. He wants to burn the series of paintings. The reasons for his rejection are deeply rooted in his **** identity. The Christoph in the picture is a former lover of his. Over time, Lori and Julian seem to become friends. Through her, he rediscovers himself and his peace of mind. Steven Soderbergh’s new feature film deals not only with the creative process, but also with the already excessive attempts to interpret art. How can one possibly know what an artist was thinking when creating their work? It is an impossible question. Nevertheless, Lori seems to understand Julian better than he understands himself, having studied his works. Ultimately, Julian is unable to complete the series of paintings, even though he lets himself go and simply gives free rein to every emotion as he tries. Shortly before the end of his life, he is finally able to set himself free.“Does it matter who painted it?” – Lori’s final statement tells the audience everything they need to know: Lori finished the series for Julian. He shared his inspiration with her. The reviews now suggest that Steven Soderbergh has created yet another brilliant film. This is misleading, however, as his direction is non-existent. There is no discernible directorial style. The screenplay leaves little room for interpretation. Ian McKellen and Micaela Cole alone are responsible for the depth of the characters, which is nowhere to be found in the script. The cinematography and editing are simplistic and lack any creativity.