Genius - Movie Review

Life is a long road and you shouldn't lose those who can pass it with you.

Surfing on the Internet, I accidentally came across the movie "Genius" from 2016, which I will remember as one of the most interesting movies I've seen lately.

The movie "Genius" directed by Michael Grandage is a real find for lovers of literature. It is based on real events describing the creative activity and life of Thomas Wolfe, rightfully ranked among a pleiad of major names in American prose of the twenties and thirties of the XX century. Contemporaries (including Thomas Mann) put Wolfe on a par with Hemingway, Faulkner and Fitzgerald.

The hero of the film "Genius", Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law) was lucky to meet in the difficult period of his life a man who took all his shortcomings and randomness of thoughts. This man was a laconic but perceptive Max Perkins (Colin Firth), an experienced editor who never parted with his hat, who previously worked with Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald. Having decided to publish the work of Thomas Wolfe, Max Perkins becomes close with the author and finds in him not just a writer, but a son and friend.

Novice writer, Thomas Wolfe, after being rejected by all the publishing houses in New York, loses the hope that his work will be published. However, Perkins had a flair for the great writers, and he recognized the essence and talent in the voluminous works of Wolfe.

The author's great ambitions lead to endless arguments and confrontation with Max Perkins. Jude Law captures his emotionality, conveys all the complex facets of the writer's soul, while a small amount of madness burns in his eyes. It seems that the actor would go on screaming to convey the essence of the writer.

However, Perkins, as a master of his craft, understands that the work of the writer is complex and emotional, because every written word comes from the very soul. Actor Colin Firth, who played Max Perkins, as always was on top. He is a real jewel of cinematography, each of his roles was unmatched, he can not play otherwise.

In pursuit for the ideal text, the author lets his personal life under a slope and stops taking care of his health. Scooping energy and drive from underground clubs and jazz, addicted to alcohol, Thomas doubts the good intentions of Max and sees in his actions an attempt to adopt the author's glory.

The editor, in turn, does not see how his children grow up, endless doubts torment him. Does he make Wolfe's work worse by reducing the volume of written pages? Is this work different from how the author sees it?

Perkins influences Wolfe's work, just as raw diamond turns in the piece of jewelry. Line by line, page by page, the titanic work of two people turned into a novel that became a bestseller.

In the end, different views on life departed Wolfe and Perkins. Both sides regret what happened, but they do not want to admit it to each other.

Featuring writers such as Ernest Hemingway (Dominic West) and Scott Fitzgerald (Guy Pearce) appear in the movie.

It was Fitzgerald, who at that time had a creative and family crisis, expressed to the main character his point of view: "Life is a long road and you shouldn't lose those who can pass it with you."

Wolfe would not be able to establish relations with Perkins, as he is diagnosed with a serious illness that leads to death.

In the end, Max Perkins remains in the office, taking off his hat after reading the posthumous letter of Thomas Wolfe. Such a small detail, like a taken off hat, shows how important Thomas has become to Max, how he regrets about the loss, how much they have not done, how many plans have not been implemented.

At such times, you understand that ambitions and character are not so important when it comes to people who are important to the soul and heart. You never know where and how death will come or what may happen in the next minute. It's so easy and so important to say "Sorry, I was wrong." Life is too short to waste it on resentment and regret.

If you like literature of 20-30 years of XX century, jazz and dialogues about life, then you need to watch this movie.

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