The increasingly prolific Steven Soderbergh is back once again with this comedy, written by Ed Solomon and starring Ian McKellen as a once famous artist, Julian Sklar. His children, Sallie (Jessica Gunning) and Barnaby (James Corden), wanting a more substantial inheritance, hire Lori (Michaela Coel), an art restorer who has a secret past as a forger, to complete some of his unfinished paintings.
In lots of ways, this is a less ambitious film than a lot of Soderbergh’s work. It is confined to a small number of settings and, in fact, I can imagine it as a play set in Julian’s shabby house. Also, despite a clever plot, there are few great twists and turns. But, it is nonetheless, a real delight. McKellan is at his theatrical best, frequently waspish and cantankerous but always with a glint in his eye. Coel is new to me, but she perfectly captures both her character’s surface timidity and hidden strength.
There is one major event towards the end that felt a little too obvious, but otherwise it is a witty, playful and lightly directed film.
Rating: 8 out of 10