great film . . . believable, probably true to life

Rating: 7/10 (26 October 2007)

This film was great. Sam Riley really got into the role and communicated it in a very believable way. My only criticism (and this is truly nitpicking) is that the story is told exclusively from the point of view of Deborah Curtis (Ian's wife). Yes, she wrote the book on which this film is based, and yes, she co-produced the film. Perhaps seeing Ian as a poor father and husband makes him more real than if we could have seen more of the misunderstood genius. But there is very little attention paid to Ian's creative process, not enough paid to his influences/inspirations, etc. Ian's family life is portrayed as being clearly separate from his professional life. It seems strange that someone so determined to portray herself as ostracized would go so far as to co-direct a film about a character whose notoriety stems from the very thing she was ostracized from. But maybe I'm looking into it too much.