You didn’t think People Talking was dead because there hasn’t been a post in three weeks, did you? I certainly hope not. Vacation is a wonderful thing, but, it’s time to get back to the movies.
Directed by Scott Derrickson
Written by Jon Spaihts & Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill, based on the character created by Steve Ditko
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Soundtrack: Michael Giacchino
So, what happens when a Marvel movie about a Buddha is helmed by a Christian guy who makes horror films?
Well, apparently you get one of the better movies of the year.
I had no idea what to expect from ‘Doctor Strange’ going into it. I knew absolutely nothing about the character or the comics, and all I could glean from the trailers is that it looked like the lovechild of ‘Inception’, ‘The Matrix‘, and maybe some ‘Harry Potter’ (which, from a cinematic perspective, is true, and I’m more than okay with that).
I get nervous sometimes when I see that a movie is receiving overwhelmingly positive reaction, but, in retrospect, I should have believed the hype, because recent history has shown that the Marvel Cinematic Universe does well when it’s not afraid to get a little weird (e.g. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Ant-Man’), and, well, this one has “Strange” right in the title.
I’m not going to talk about the plot (it’s an origin story), because you either know what it is already, or it’ll be there for you to discover, but, the movie, as they say, is a trip, and not the bad kind. It may not boast the same level of visceral realism as, say, ‘Interstellar’, but I’d be lying if I said the visuals weren’t impressive and clever in their own right, which is important in a film as ambitious as this one (at least relative to other superhero movies).
Also important are the performances, and I can honestly say I didn’t spot a poor one in the bunch. Rachel McAdams is a stand-out despite minimal screen time, Mads Mikkelsen is a proper villain without being a scenery-chewer, and, controversial casting choice aside, I think Tilda Swinton knocks it out of the park as The Ancient One.
However, if you’re wondering where my praise for Benedict Cumberbatch is, I think he’s more than serviceable, it’s just that in my opinion he doesn’t establish himself as indispensable in the titular role. Part of this is not his fault, because he’s following in the footsteps of Hugh Laurie, but, because he’s a British actor playing an American doctor, it’s difficult not to imagine him merely doing a “House, M.D.” impression, and thus I can’t help but wonder how someone else (perhaps, I don’t know, an American actor?) might have played the role.
Similarly, Michael Giacchino delivers a fine score, but the melody of the main theme sounds suspiciously similar to his recent work on the Star Trek films. Whether this is a case of temp track fever, self-plagiarism, or something else, I don’t know, but it definitely gnawed on me throughout the movie.
Realistically though, these are minor criticisms compared to the movie as a whole.
In the end, ‘Doctor Strange’ is an enjoyable adventure that’s balanced out with the right amount of fun and serious stakes. Certainly one of the better movies of 2016, and one of the better Marvel movies ever made. Kudos to writer/director Scott Derrickson and everyone else involved.
Rating: ★★★★½
P.S.
As usual, thanks to Alamo Drafthouse [Yonkers] and Mondo for the swag and for getting into the spirit of the thing.
