THE CHRISTOPHERS 15

The Christophers is a recent comedy-drama by the renowned American director Steven Soderbergh, who has an eclectic mix of films to his name including Sex, Lies and Videotape, Erin Brockovich, Che, and Ocean's Eleven. The Christophers is based in present day London, and stars the wonderful Ian McKellen as an old and highly irritable artist, Julian Sklar. Now a semi-recluse and no longer painting, his rather nefarious adult children want to work out what has happened to a previous and much sought after series of paintings (‘the Christophers’). So they persuade their acquaintance Lori Butler (brilliantly played by Michaela Coel) to work for Julian as his assistant and locate the paintings.

Of course, Ian McKellen is as captivating as ever (and perfectly cast) as the eccentric and irascible artist, but Coel more than stands up to his screen presence with a subtle and yet riveting performance. Their developing relationship is the emotional core of the film.

Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian gave it a rare five star review, describing it as: “…terrifically exhilarating, as bracing as a large vodka and tonic before lunch: fast, literate and funny with a key plot progression elliptically and unsentimentally managed. The double act of McKellen and Coel has the onscreen chemistry of the year.”

The Christophers is 1 hours 40 minutes long (plus a 20 minute interval).