Review of Genius (2016) by Maksim B — 19 Nov 2016

A tribute to a brilliant mind, Genius is a slow-paced, but intriguing sort of biopic that could please both literature lovers and viewers seeking for a more mature and niche movie entertainment. A story about an incredibly interesting person, Max Perkins, the editor who discovered F.Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Wolfe, this is also a compelling character study and unusual, but touching bromance story.

Genius covers the time of Max Perkins (Colin Firth) when he discovers the weird, but genius Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law). An established and well-respected editor, Mr.Perkins has to put in his whole patience, editing abilities and personal devotion in order to guide and to help Thomas Wolfe bring his masterpieces to the world. By revealing the unique bromance between these two strong characters, director Michael Grandage conducts a most intriguing character study of them both.

Unfortunately, this character study is somehow not to the level that many have hoped for. The presence of other remarkable characters such as F.Scott Fitzgeral (Guy Pearce) and Ernest Hemingway (Dominic West) only attracts further attention to the their personas and leads to losing the focus on the main characters. Add up the controversial performance of Jude Law and the lack of real chemistry between him and Colin Firth and you will end up with a movie that had the potential to be an Oscar contender, but ended up as only as a satisfying delivery.