“The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” is hitting the screens, and it's time for us to remember why the world fell in love with Benedict Cumberbatch. If you've forgotten, of course.

Synopsis

The eccentric gentleman Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch) is interested in literally everything: from electricity and patents for inventions to composing music. But nature especially gifted him artistically – and it's no wonder, because all the Wain children inherited this talent.

Someday he will become Louis Wain, the artist highly praised by H.G. Wells and beloved by people from all corners of the Earth. But for now, he has yet to meet the woman who will change his world (Claire Foy), and the cat Peter, who will help him change the world around him…

The Electricity of the Film “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain”

Victorian England continues to stir the minds of directors. There is something about that prim era that makes creators try to capture its charm and coldness, provoked by social stratification and public taboos.

Director Will Sharpe decided to focus on eccentricity, and he is far from the first. Take, for example, the recent “” – a British commune is evident, the otherness of the characters is off the charts, and the “color-blind casting” of actors of color in roles of the London elite is no longer surprising.

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Armando Iannucci in his new film “The Personal History of David Copperfield” attempted to adapt Dickens' great text without betraying his signature style.

Open material

And it works! Because the first half of “Worlds” has its own character and face, knows how to make you laugh with simple pantomime from the actors and make you worry about the characters as if they were yourself. The contrast and balance of truly funny and touching scenes with tragic moments gives the viewer a great roller coaster ride. These are exactly the emotions you want to experience in the cinema. Multiply all this by a stunningly beautiful picture – and voila!

But as always – small caveats blur the overall impression and make you resent the missed opportunities. Because the film has enormous potential. If not for a couple of “buts”…

The Second Half of the Film

Suddenly, “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” seems to forget how to do what it so masterfully pulled off in the first half. Namely – delight the viewer and maintain balance. Because the second half is simply the apogee of a state that I can only describe as “throwing every possible tear-jerking plot device at the viewer so that they don't even have a chance not to sniffle at least once.”

Suddenly, the eccentricity of the characters dissolves into thin air, and they begin to play tragedy without a break. And it's not that this play at tragedy is tasteless or unsuccessful. No, there is a high chance that you will indeed sniffle at least once. But you wish the film had earned that effect, because otherwise what's happening on screen can only be called manipulation.

On the other hand, it's sometimes pleasant to let yourself go and experience deep emotions in the cinema. And if that's exactly why you go to the movies, then “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” achieves its goal perfectly.

Actors

Without a doubt, the acting in “Worlds” is its main asset. Every actor is perfectly cast and surprisingly good at playing what they are supposed to.

There are pleasant surprises, like cameo appearances by Richard Ayoade or Taika Waititi, and simply excellent masterclasses in supporting roles from Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, and Claire Foy.

And then there is Benedict Cumberbatch.

Since the release of Sherlock, the popularity of asocial geniuses played by Cumberbatch has been so high that his acting range has raised questions. Find ten differences between his Holmes, Turing, Assange, or Edison.

When Louis Wain appears on screen, the viewer might think, “Here we go again, Ben in his usual repertoire.” But a few minutes pass, and suddenly his character begins to play with new colors, and you start vaguely remembering his early work, for which you once loved him. At least, that's how it was for me. This film rediscovered Cumberbatch for me, and for that alone, honor and praise to him.

Conclusion

This film can undoubtedly be counted among the most successful in recent times. With its emotional core, it wins over its counterpart “Copperfield,” and with its beautiful visual imagery, it simply cannot fail to please.

If you want to have a great time – give “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” a chance. The only thing that might scare you off is excessive sentimentality, but when has that been a problem in decent films?