Eddie isn't pretty enough and medicine is full of quacks!

Rating: 4/10 (18 January 2016)

Firstly the good points: The cinematography is quite beautiful and the Continental locations interior and exterior are so atmospheric. Costumes are good too. There is a morbid fascination that keeps one interested in watching how "perversion" was dealt with in the past just like another movie this year "Carol". Plus with the Caitlyn Jenner in the news this movie is topical.
The weaknesses: Casting wasn't perfect. Eddie Redmayne acts as well as can be expected, but he isn't a pretty man so how can he make a pretty woman? He looks worse than Norman Bates in drag. Amber Heard is a scene stealer as a vivacious ballet dancer. Alicia Vikander although a bit tanned for a Danish is sympathetic as the most understanding wife in the history of cinema.
Don't understand why they made a movie about an ultimately unsuccessful operation - why not make a movie about the first successful gender reassignment instead? The message I got is some doctors will do anything even if it isn't in the best interest of the patient. Obviously the Dresden doctor shouldn't have gone ahead with the 2nd operation so soon.