Outside the major Hollywood limelight, Steven Soderbergh consistently proves himself as the kind of filmmaker the industry needs: diverse yet economical.
His last few films speak for themselves. "Black Bag" and "Presence", produced back-to-back and released a few months apart, are an exercise of his resourcefulness and creative wit while also maintaining his artistic voice. Among his independent director contemporaries, his longevity and ability to continue churning out new films (mostly original) like clockwork is worth studying for film students.
"The Christophers" is Soderbergh's newest film currently out in New Zealand cinemas. Set in London, it's a thoughtful and occasionally funny two-hander drama that doesn't feel anything like his previous works, yet reveals much about him as an artist looking ahead of his legacy.
Lori Butler (Michaela Coel) was hired by the estranged children (Jessica Gunning and James Corden) of famous artist Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen) as an assistant to secretly forge and complete his unfinished works before his death.
"The Christophers" also depicts Englishness so convincingly, especially considering Soderbergh is an American director working with a fellow American screenwriter (Ed Solomon). The dialogue is impressively sharp, while the characters Lori and Julian, played so richly by Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen respectively, are memorably self-absorbed and unapologetically crass in the best way.
"The Christophers" needs trimming in its middle part, but the first and third acts are some of the best things I’ve seen so far this year. I can say that while the film feels isolated from the rest of Soderbergh's works, his empathic sensibilities are very present here. It may be the secret to his longevity.
"The Christophers" gets ★★★★☆
"The Christophers" is now showing in New Zealand cinemas.
Featured images from NEON.
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