223. McKellen - Playing the Part; movie review

MCKELLEN - PLAYING THE PART
Cert 12A
92 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, moderate sex references

Too many of my celebrity prejudices are based around fleeting meetings or anecdotes from colleagues when I worked in the regional press.
Ian McKellen was earmarked as grumpy and difficult when he turned down media interviews on a visit to a Derby school.
And his opening gambit on this biopic reminded me of Vivienne Westwood's discomfort at being interviewed for her recent documentary.
Thankfully, McKellen - Playing The Part is more engaging than I expected and its subject opens up much more than Westwood did.
McKellen chronicles his life from childhood insecurities which he puts down to his sexuality, through his hugely successful career, to his work in schools.
He is not at all sullen about his life - in fact, tells his tales with a twinkle in his sharp eyes - but is surprisingly critical of quite a large portion of his own work.
Indeed, he appears to hold nothing back, offering anecdotes about other actors, family and friends.
It is a genuine self-portrait although he admits that his recollections are not necessarily totally accurate because of a fading memory.
Joe Stephenson's film contains some wonderful archive clippings, photos and footage which have been kept by McKellen.
He fills the gaps of his early life, of which there are few illustrations, with dramatised segments.
The combination works splendidly and, by the film's conclusion, we really think we know the man inside the Gandalf cape.
Or do we? McKellen admits that he likes to act in almost every scenario, on stage or off it, and hangs out the possibility that this is just the side he wants us to see.
There are no other contributions to confirm or deny.

Reasons to watch: Reminiscences of a fascinating life story
Reasons to avoid: Very much from McKellen's perspective

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Director quote - Joe Stephenson: "He's a very gentle and quite a shy person, really. Which is quite a strange thing - a juxtaposition, really, with how outspoken he is about things and how brave he is and how much of a strong performer he is. He is actually quite a shy individual."

The big question - Who is the real McKellen? Fine or foul?

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