Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain, whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever.
Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a deeply committed performance as Louis Wain, and the film's visual presentation — with its shifting, kaleidoscopic imagery mirroring Wain's mental state — is genuinely striking. The cinematography earns its marks for inventiveness and beauty. However, the plot follows a fairly familiar 'troubled genius' biopic arc, hitting expected beats of love, loss, and decline without subverting the form. The ending feels unresolved and somewhat deflating, leaving Wain's story trailing off rather than landing with emotional weight. The film is charming and well-intentioned but occupies well-trodden biopic territory in its storytelling despite its visual flair.