Lucky for me, I had no idea, then, that "Doctor Strange" was one, a Marvel Studios production and two, a Marvel comic book character. Lucky because I probably wouldn't have gone to see it. In fact, I had heard of it and had not given it a bit of attention until I heard the name of the main actor: Benedict Cumberbatch.
I am an unabashed fan of Benedict Cumberbatch. He's talented, has a smouldering sexuality that attracts women like flies, and is disturbingly handsome.
The first time I heard his name, several years ago, I was annoyed. What an ugly name, Cumberbatch. But it wasn't his fault, of course, and I am old enough to say to myself, don't dislike him for his name, for pete's sakes.
Then I got hooked on "Sherlock". Oh my god. "Sherlock". I am "Sherlocked". I cannot get enough of Sherlock. I loved the Sherlock Holmes series with Jeremy Brett. I watched every episode. I loved his portrayal, until Benedict C took it on with a contemporary twist. If it can be said that there is a better portrayal of Holmes than Brett's, it can only be that of Benedict Cumberbatch. Yes, much of this is due to it's "today" and it's retread-and new twists, of stories...and solutions..I already know.
Now that I am a fan, I see him in movies I had no idea he played in. For instance, he was the poff Major in "War Horse", probably the best horse movie ever made.
He's been around for a long time, morphing into roles without a bit of effort. But I digress.
"Sherlock" introduced me to a man who is probably the best actor this world has ever seen. Cumberbatch is...an ectomorph. Whatever role he plays, he becomes it. If he were an animal he'd be an octopus, a creature famous for its ability to BECOME whatever it is sitting on. Effortlessly. Believably. Sympathetically.
Because there is no better actor on earth.
For instance, we Americans pretend that we can affect a believable English accent. However, few if any English actors do the opposite. One, they know better. Brits don't want to sound American (or even Canadian), they want to sound English because they know there's not an American who doesn't love an English accent. We adore it. The Brits Speak Proper English, without the slang, without the lazy pronounciation, without the southern drawl that seems so prevalent in American movies. No, they use multi-syllable words. They treat the English language with respect.
Yet it took me the entire movie to realize that Cumberbatch had affected an American accent, so flawlessly and so perfectly that you would never guess he was English.
"Doctor Strange" is a strange movie, and thank all the stars, NOT a typical (if that one movie I sat through on a five hour flight was any indication) Marvel movie. This is a killer of a movie. It, of course, strains credulity but, isn't that what movies do? Take you out of your mundane world and send you, willy-nilly, into a different one? There you go, in "Strange". It's FUN. It's full of bad guys who are both scary to look at and easy to hate. They're not half assed villains, no, they are full on bad guys. Mads Mikkelsen plays Kasilius, the uber villain who bears an amazing resemblance to Vladimir Putin-and is just as evil. There are twists to the good guys, as well. These are flawed people. Just like us.
Cumberbatch plays a brain surgeon..a very egotistical and talented brain surgeon, who loses the use of his hands in a terrifyingly realistic car accident. (by the way, it happened because he was distracted by his smart phone. Shut off your damned phone and DRIVE.)
Have you ever noticed how Hollywood makes a car wreck look dreadful and yet the airbags never deploy and the actors walk off without a scratch? Not this time, holy shit, that's a bad wreck and Cumberbatch comes out of it looking hideous.
Of course, being the arrogant asshole that he is, Doctor Strange lashes out in fury at everyone in his world at the loss of his talented hands. He goes off to find someone who can restore them by some metaphysical miracle.
He enters a world full of sorcerers, spells and some very, very innovative special effects.
It's a good movie, a lot of fun, and definitely worth the price of the ticket.
By the way, do NOT leave before the complete end of the credits, that seem to roll on for days. There was a couple of battalions of people working on that film. No, sit through the credits, because there's a surprise.
Mr. Cumberbatch, congratulations. I stand in slack jawed awe at your talent.
Benedict, I liked "Doctor Strange". Well done. Terrific job. Now get back to SHERLOCK, damn it...
