Entertaining but hardly "the best film of the year"

Rating: 8/10 (13 December 2015)

The acting in this movie is excellent; that being said, the story is good, too. It's a little different for those that can't think out of the box, but overall, it flows well and ends well. The main character is one viewers can connect with and sympathize with as the story unfolds.
The film itself is unique with the long tracking shots and the small set of the St. James Theatre feeling very claustrophobic, but that enhances the story itself being told. The cast is not large, but it's effective right down to the moment where Andrea Riseborough and Naomi Watts make out backstage. It's not gratuitous; it's very believable.
The existential aspects of the story aren't going to be for everyone, and that's where the film can lose half its potential viewers. But a willing suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy and value this film; that may not be possible for everyone.