Inoffensive, but just decent

Rating: Null/10 (8 January 2015)

Even more formulaic, schmaltzy, and sort of uninspired than I had predicted. But... I didn't dislike it. Kind of hard to dislike such a competently-made film that's so inoffensive. There's really nothing wrong with it besides being formulaic, although the dialogue certainly can be quite mediocre at times. Cumberbatch started out really rough. He was so... technical in everything he was doing. He was technically good, delivering his lines, his expressions, everything in exactly the way you'd expect, but that was the problem. You could see everything coming, all I saw was an actor acting without making me feel anything and it was really distracting. After the first half hour, though, he became a real character and I grew to care about him, to the point that I really wish the film around him was better. Knightley is fine, if at times a little uneven, but awards nominations for this? Just no way... other actresses could've done a lot more with that role. This is kind of exactly the same as The Theory of Everything, both are among the most forgettable but still decent films up for awards, and neither should be getting anywhere near the mentions and nominations they've been getting. People kept comparing this to The King's Speech, but that was a formulaic, but rather great film with a lot more heart and a lot more excitement. This... is not that, and I really hope it doesn't beat neither Birdman or Boyhood for Best Picture.