Review of Doctor Strange (2016) by Edam A — 03 Mar 2017

The star of Dr. Strange is the very talented Benedict Cumberbatch, who you may know from other films such as The Imitation Game, or his hit BBC show Sherlock. Mr. Cumberbatch is a world class actor who has demonstrated his interim abilities in performance of a wide range of characters such as Allen Turing, Khan in Star Trek, and Sherlock. In every role he plays, Mr. Cumberbatch has the characteristics of being intelligent, eccentric, in control, and superior to everyone else in the environment that he is acting. To put it simply he plays the "top dog" in every scene.

In the first scenes of the movie we are introduced to Dr. Stephan Strange, alpha neurosurgeon. Benedict Cumberbatch easily assumes the role as an arrogant, world-class specialist. This is demonstrated in the scene when he belittles a fellow surgeon for is inferior abilities, in the realization concerning a patient with a gunshot wound to the head can be saved. In full display of his egotism during said surgery; Dr. Strange looks over mid-operation, and commands the already belittled surgeon to cover his ticking watch to which the demeaned peer immediately complies. Benedict Cumberbatch illustrates Dr. Strangers arrogance by depreciating a co-worker, in so doing establishing his dominance as the alpha surgeon.

Due to an unfortunate life-altering event, our doctor is toppled from his mantle. In several emotional demonstrations of effort and struggle; scene after scene he displays the downward desperation of Dr. Strange as he exhausts every resource and relationship that he has. This apexes in a scene where Dr. Strange fully recognizes his plight, by a refusal of an experimental operation from his last confidence in a fellow surgeon. In a fit of rage, our pitiful doctor heaves his possessions outward and isolates himself from the last of his crumbling relationships. As a mark of a truly desperate man, Dr. Strange flees halfway around the world based on the hope of a rumor of an "ancient one" that can heal our shattered doctor. He shies away from the safety of western medicine and flees halfway around the world expending the last of his finances.

Upon finally being introduced to the mysteries ancient one, Benedict Cumberbatch displays the disbelief of Dr. Strange, a man whose life is based on science; is thrown into a world that he considered hokum. He personifies a man once "on top," struggling with ignorance, and outward blame while fighting to improve his character. With his uphill battle to establish himself, Benedict Cumberbatch displays Dr. Strange's new-found confidence in his abilities when he is deserted on top of a mountain. He is forced to rely on his newly realized skills to save himself from freezing to death, thus demonstrating a man expanding from science to the belief of the mystical.

In the final scenes, Benedict Cumberbatch transforms from our once arrogant doctor. He has attained new attributes, such as his selflessness and willingness to sacrifice himself for others. As shown in climax where he willingly dies repeatedly, to negotiate a deal with world destroying force, per the goal of world conservation. In this scene, Benedict Cumberbatch displays his superiority as an actor, with a profound character development. This establishes his acting ability to a new high.