The Christophers movie is destined to remain in my top five movies this year, make sure you see it.
Movie The Christophers
His children Barnaby (James Corden) and Sallie (Jessica Gunning) no longer visit, which Sklar seems to relish.
Barnaby and Sallie are very aware of their father’s worth, with just one of his paintings having recently sold for over two million dollars. They’re even more aware of the gossip about eight unfinished canvases sitting in Sklar’s attic. Dubbed the Christophers, if finished the pieces could make them both multimillionaires on his death. If only he would finish them.
Sallie tries her hand at replicating the work but soon discovers the apple has fallen a long way from the tree. Instead, they enlist Lori Butler (Michaela Coel), a young artist they grew up with, who has the ability to forge great works.
Butler arrives at Sklar’s place posing as a prospective assistant there to help him catalogue his work or as Sklar puts it entering that time of life where you are “waiting for a life to be catalogued and itemized”.
It doesn’t take long before Butler locates the unfinished canvases. But things are not a simple as they seem as turns out she has her own past with Sklar.
The movie presents as a play and offers a series of perfectly timed twist to keep you intrigued. It touches on ageing, legacy, ego, family, lost love, the lies we tell ourselves and how the things we say linger through a lifetime. The movie also reminds us to be mindful of what we say especially when critiquing others work.
It’s always a good sign when the audience spontaneously applauds at the end of a movie, albeit a bit weird as there’s no one associated with the production to hear it. McKellen is delicious as the cantankerous artistic treasure, what a treat to see a new outing from him. Coel was new to me, her stillness a perfect partner to Sklar’s wordsmith and what an exquisite face. I’ll definitely be looking out for her.
For more information go to Luna Cinemas. Starts June 4.
