Sunday, 1 October 2017

FILM: Goodbye Christopher Robin (dir: Simon Curtis, 2017)

"That was...unexpected."

A family-friendly feature about the world-famous bear stories?  Nothing of the sort.  Goodbye Christopher Robin is a searing and scalpel-sharp exploration of parenthood, the class system, fiction versus reality, the futility of war and the impact of celebrity, the latter notably on the young (actual) Christopher Robin.  It is a beautifully-made film, with the period detail and pastoral Sussex realised wonderfully on screen, and a surprising amount of story/content is addressed.  The ever-watchable Domhnall Gleeson gives a masterclass in control and precision as war-damaged author A.A.Milne, Margot Robbie is exquisite as his society-loving wife albeit in a slightly underwritten character, and the wonderful Kelly Macdonald is a standout as the steadfast nanny.  Balancing nostalgic kicks and serious issues well, Goodbye Christopher Robin manages to be equally entertaining and thought-provoking.

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