User Reviews

Some films can firmly claim to be one-of-a-kind, such as; 'The Life of Pi', then there's this one, about a painter I had not heard of from the late eighteen hundreds. Louis was a tortured fellow bordering on several psychotic spectrums while being extremely gifted in the arts, etc - leaving behind his remarkable (and much copied) Cat paintings that took the era by storm. Its style is dazzling all the way, and impresses on many levels - it starts off with a rather convoluted opening, that may not suit viewers with a short attention span or an impatience for understanding what drives a character's actions.

This is a fact-based story running the gamut of human emotions - seeking to open doorways into the lives of troubled souls who existed during unsympathetic, and rather medically ignorant times (think also of Van Gogh). Production design, performances, cinematography and, music are exemplary, leaving patient audiences with a unique and precious gift.

Director, co-writer, Japanese/English Will Sharp is no stranger to Bipolar disorders being type 11, and injects powerful understandings into Louis's character. Will's brother, Arthur Sharp, imparts wonderful emotional support supplying a stand-out Theremin based music score. Story writer Simon Stephenson has created a rich human experience giving us much to feel and think about (perhaps there's also a nod to Australian pop artist Martin Sharp here).

One aspect that created a little disappointment was the decision to photograph in a variation of the old 4 x 3 frame. It added nothing to the story, in fact gave the film a cramped, claustrophobic feel, that can be better achieved in production design. Modern movie makers sometimes, mistakenly, think they need to go backward - away from the vast improvements in aspect ratios, this can sacrifice vital elements within their work. The end credits were neat but why so small? Otherwise, it's quite a special experience from Studio Canal and Amazon Studios.

I may be doing the movie a bit of a disservice mentioning that other movie that came out a few years ahead of this. Which also has nothing to do with this movie ... apart from this having cats in it too. Although in this case, the cats are ... well mostly just that: cats! And not people CGIed as cats.

I probably shouldn't be explaining too much, I reckon if you have seen the movie you'll get the joke. And if you don't want to watch it ... well you'll be missing out on an amazing performance by Benedict Cumberbatch! That Dude is really something ... I saw an interview with him a while ago ... he really takes his craft seriously ... and yet always injects fun into the making of the movies he is in. Like skateboarding while being dressed as Dr. Strange.

I can only imagine what he did on the set of this movie. With so many talented other actors surrounding him - many of them being female (and part of the family of the character he portrays). I am not aware of the actual Louis Wain, but he seems to have had a rough life. Not sure how many liberties or how big the liberties are that the movie is taking, but it makes up for a coherent piece of storytelling. And what more can one ask for?

Louis (loo-eee) Wain was a British artist who lived 1860 to 1939, dying a month before he would have turned 79. He also fashioned himself as a composer and an inventor although those never came to fruition. He had theories about electricity but nothing practical like Tesla.

However he made his reputation with cats, especially drawing cats in all kinds of real and fantasy situations. That is his lasting legacy. Within his family, himself and his five female siblings, were some types of mental illness. All this is prominent in this movie.

Before watching it I knew nothing of Louis Wain and now find him to be a fascinating person. I already knew Benedict Cumberbatch to be one of the better working actors currently and he certainly hits a home run as the colorful and eccentric Wain.

My wife and I watched it at home on Amazon streaming.

Benedict Cumberbatch is Louis Wain, the Victorian cat illustrator, in "The Electrical Life of Louis Wain."

This is really a lovely film. Wain, who lives with his five sisters and mother, is flighty. As a result, his sister Caroline (Andrea Risborough) is in charge of the family and sets about to hire a governess, Emily (Claire Foy).

Louis has a million things going on in his head, some of which don't make much sense. He certainly can draw, though. He's also very busy inventing and actually composes an opera ("this isn't really even music," he's told).

When he meets Emily, however, Louis takes on a new interest. She is ten years older than he, and they are of different social standings. Nevertheless, they fall in love and marry. Unfortunately, she is diagnosed with terminal breast cancer not long after.

One day they find a kitten in the rain and name it Peter. Peter gives Emily much comfort during her illness, and Louis begins to draw him. Thus begins his cat illustrations, which bring him success.

Historians believe Louis was schizophrenic and that his advancing illness can be seen in his drawings, which become hallucinogenic later on in his career. He is eventually sent to a state institution, but his fans, including H. G. Wells, raise money to have him sent to more comfortable surroundings, where he lives out his life.

Benedict Cumberbatch - the arrogant genius of Sherlock, the cruel, repressed cowboy in The Power of the Dog, the tortured agent in The Courier, the brilliant Alan Turing, the unstable alcoholic of Patrick Melrose, here adds another brilliant performance to his resume. Passionate, loving, and gentle, whimsical, becoming more and more erratic as time goes on.

Some argue that Wain comes off as too crazy here, and yet others think he is more whimsical and wonder if it wouldn't be more dramatic if his descent into madness had been shown more. Nevertheless, the film has much beauty and many good scenes in it.

I have to give this film credit as it does get many things "right" about Mr. Wain's life, which is rare in modern "true" films, but not everything, and maybe not the "most" important part of the film.

Wain wasn't "crazy", today many experts agree he was likely autistic in a world that didn't "understand" autism. Look it up, please.

He was thought to be psychotic late in life, but his creativity didn't diminish in those later years, it flourished. Historically speaking, psychiatric patients who are diagnosed with serious mental illness generally "lose" their artistic talents. Wain never did.

What "is" true from the film is that Wain dearly loved his wife, as portrayed, and he changed the way the world looked at cats, and I'm grateful he did.

My Review - The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. A Prime Amazon Film

My Rating 7/10

This moving characterisation of talented but mentally troubled artist Louis Wain is yet another fine performance from probably the most talented and diverse actor on the planet today Benedict Cumberbatch. Seeing his brilliant portrayal of Phil Burbank the cruel and austere Montana Cattle rancher and then a few days later to see this consummate actor portray a fragile gentle Victorian Englishman surrounded by his eccentric mother and sisters who falls in love with an older woman blissfully marries then loses her quickly to terminal cancer is utterly remarkable to me that it's the same Benedict Cumberbatch.

This is the true story of a man who later in life was confined to mental institutions as he was alleged to have suffered from schizophrenia. According to some psychiatrists, the onset of schizophrenia can be seen in his works, although the schizophrenia diagnosis is in dispute. I would rather have thought his gentle eccentric and talented artistic temperament aided by a disassociation to other people except his wife and the animals he adored was just more on the autism spectrum not schizophrenia?

Louis Waine has been acknowledged as helping to promote the fascination of the domestic cat and their adoration world over by felinophiles of which I'm one that peaked in Victorian England and lasted through the generations till today .

He achieved this through his drawings, which consistently featured anthropomorphized large-eyed cats although he started drawing dogs until Peter a black and white kitten that he and his wife Emily rescued in their garden from a storm changed both their lives.

I was moved by this story but had a few reservations about the technical aspects of the movie and one piece of miscasting .

As much as I admire Claire Foy I felt her role should have been played by Olivia Colman who is the narrator of the story or an actress like Imelda Staunton.

The character of Emily Richardson is meant to be ten years older than Louis, Claire Foy is actually eight years younger than Benedict Cumberbatch.

Claire Foy is charming as the Governess who comes to live in the mad house that is Louis Waine's home surrounded by loud eccentric women and their even louder children but it's stretching credibility to think that Emily Richardson is ten years older than her husband.

The other problem for me was the 4.3 screen ratio I know it was chosen for artistic reasons and at times this film is as pretty as a Victorian post card but I found it almost squashing the scope of the movie .

The publicity blurb says "Every frame features gorgeous production design by Suzie Davies and elegant costumes by Michael O'Connor, captured in creamily luscious cinematography by Erik Alexander Wilson, though the film is shot in the boxy 4:3 ratio, perhaps to simulate the feeling of a canvas on screen.

Sorry Merchant Ivory achieved the same effect on the wide screen plus wonderful films of artists lives like Turner and Van Gough didn't need 4.3 to stimulate the feeling of a canvas . The other irritating addition to the film on Amazon Prime are the subtitles to explain what is obvious the title of a book on a desk for instance that the viewer can read for themselves? I just found it distracting but I agree it's a very pretty film to watch ,especially the outdoor garden scenes.

Saying all that I'm probably nit picking ,on the whole The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is a fine and very moving film . It yet again puts Benedict Cumberbatch as my favourite actor of the moment . I've seen him play a drug addict in the superb Patrick Melrose, a wartime code breaker in The Imitation Game a monster in Frankenstein an angry cattle rancher in The Power of the Dog ,a sleuth in Sherlock Holmes ,a Sci Fi villain in Dr Strange , a King in The Hollow Crown , a prisoner of war in The Mauritanian and in and on what a range but can he do a musical ? I'm sure he will try .

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is an incredible drama that's funny, extremely emotional and eccentric almost to a fault. A film that's closer to a true heartbreaking tragedy, despite all it's stylish quirks.

Benedict Cumberbatch adds another terrific lead performance to his already impressive career with a tragic yet loveable character. He also has superb chemistry with Claire Foy, who is great and essential to the emotional core of the film.

Will Sharpe's direction is fantastic, consistently beautiful in its imagery and effortlessly stylish. The music by Arthur Sharpe is amazing, matching the films tone perfectly by being both painful and inspirational.

Greetings again from the darkness. If you fancy yourself a cat lover, you've likely seen his drawings, or at least some of the many 'copies' that other artists have produced over the years. Louis Wain was a prolific British illustrator, best known for his anthropomorphic paintings and drawing of cats (think of the kitschy paintings of dogs playing poker). Writer-director Will Sharpe and co-writer Simon Stephenson have delivered a biopic of Wain that focuses less on his art, and more on his gradual mental breakdown.

The film opens in 1881, and Louis Wain (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) is a young man, whose life has just drastically changed. The death of his father has forced Wain into the role of breadwinner for his five younger sisters and their aging mother. Initially, we aren't sure what to make of Wain. His stern and demanding sister Caroline (Andrea Riseborough) is unforgiving of his whims and demands that he find steady work to support the family. An interview with an editor/publisher played by Toby Jones allows us to see what a gifted illustrator Wain is ... and his speed is substantially due to an incredible ability to draw with both hands simultaneously.

Wain's eccentricities include a belief in the electrical currents that drive all life forms. The film doesn't spend much time on this, but it seems to be a cog in his mental illness - deemed schizophrenia (though that's been debated). Wain overcomes his insecurity around his cleft lip and marries Emily Richardson (Claire Foy), the governess to his sisters. For the times, this was quite a scandal, given the differences in age and social standing of Louis and Emily. However, it seems as though she was the only one who understood and encouraged him as an artist.

When tragedy strikes, Wain becomes inspired by their pet cat, Peter. In fact, Peter becomes Wain's muse, and leads to thousands of drawings for publication in newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, and just about every other platform. Olivia Colman provides some lively narration, and Taika Waititi and Nick Cave both have brief cameos. Cumberbatch is a bit over-the-top with his tics in the first half of the film, but his talent is clear as he portrays a man whose mental health deteriorating, and one who must rely on his special skill to find purpose. Wain spent the last 15 years of his life in a hospital, illustrating right up until the end. While Wain's legacy lives on in his work, there is also a message here - embrace your weirdness!

Amazon Studios will release THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN in theaters on October 22nd, 2021 and on Prime Video on November 5th, 2021.

This is not going to be an objective review by any means: I am a cat lover (my female cat Lisbeth is like my daughter to me), a Claire Foy lover and a Benedict Cumberbatch fan. And this movie has this three elements firing on all cylinders all the time. I was expecting this movie to be good, but not to be so much more moving and invigorating.

Truth be told: the first half with Foy and Cumberbatch (with a special entrance by Peter) is the best part. It is funny, poignant, romantic, human and beautiful. The second half may not resist the runtime that good: when Cumberbatch is with Foy the screen and their chemistry fully ignites, and that intimacy is sorely missed in the later half. But Wain´s illness and how Cumberbatch plays his final days make up for a heartfullly teary, satisfying ending.

Do not miss the first part of the credits and pay respect and admiration to the real paintings of this legendary artist. Life is hard and incredibly unfair, but also good, funny and surprising; it takes to reach out to that great moments even when the crisis, the olding and the illness come all together -just like Emily tells Louis-. And this movie shows it wonderfully. Probably it is a bit flawed (like life itself), but beautiful performances by Cumberbatch and Foy, a stunning directorial style and the right amount of heart makes this biopic one that has to be seen, so one that makes justice to its characters. Prepare to be surprised.

The man who catapulted cats into the mainstream, cataloguing his cataclysmic catastrophes while categorically catering as a catnip for cat lovers, the cateracting from the cateractors will make you caterwaul and purr - that is unless you're a dog or a bird or hypoallergenic to fur.

You can act!!!

A most extraordinary movie about one of the most insaneenasni person in british ''pop'' art history, Louis Wain, put in motion by b. Cumberbacht, and his ensemble of great caracter artists, put into life by one of the most vivid film productions, a caleidoscopic orgasmic fountain of colour and autistic spectrumized highly schizoactive love of cats(and family)

the grumpy old man recommends.

*Seen at The Toronto International Film Festival on September 12th, 2021.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021) is an amazing film that's based on a true story. The film really reminded me of The Imitation Game (2014) and that's perhaps because of Benedict Cumberbatch's performance that really reminded me of his character Alan Turing (from The Imitation Game) and also perhaps because both Alan Turing's life and Louis Wain's life were full of obstacles. But, in my opinion, Benedict Cumberbatch's performance in this film is way better than his performance in The Imitation Game (2014). His acting was so genuine, especially that there are so many scenes in the film (emotional/dramatic scenes) where the camera was mainly focusing on his face. There's a specific scene in the 2nd half of the film where the camera was mainly focused on Benedict's and Claire Foy's faces for maybe 3 whole minutes and the camera didn't cut so it was a long take scene and they both presented the best performance that I have ever seen for both of them.

The cinematography was so beautiful and the film is visually stunning especially that the film had so many shots that look like an actual painting. Sometimes I felt like in a few scenes the film had that "Wes Andersen style" with the camera movements, the set design, and the cinematography. I also really really loved that the film was shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Loved the editing and the transitions in the film especially in these moments where the Director wanted you to feel how/what Louis Wain is feeling.

One little small detail that I enjoyed as well is Olivia Colman narrating the film as if it is a fairy tale. I felt like using this method/way of telling this story made the film less heavy or less boring, especially that Louis' story could seem dull/sad/depressing sometimes.

But my only problem with the film is that I felt like the film focused too much on the "romance" especially in the first half. Also, there's a specific event that occurs that changes the direction of the film and shifts it. The movie jumps all of a sudden and immediately after that event to a whole new event which confused me because I wanted to see what happened and how Louis dealt with that. After that event, the film went down a bit and started to be boring and it lost the taste that it had since the beginning.

Also, I got to point out that the custom design, set design, and hair & makeup were very well made especially the hair & makeup which really surprised me, especially at the end when all the characters became "old".

My rating is 7.5/10 Watched: at home.

The painfully obvious racial quota box ticking and profane voice over aside the most annoying thing about this garbage is it's manic insistence that it is whimsically charming. It is not! It is however forced and contrived and had me reaching for the remote after only 15 minutes.

A very vivid performance of the role, of the talented but also strange artist ... Struggling between inspiration and mental problems Benedict Cumberbatch at his best.

It's one of those quirky English stories. Well told and narrated and just a very nice, honest and interesting stories about someone who was different.

Benedict, always great. The movie is good but then you go look up the real person and it is very sad. Still you should watch this, great biopic and now i know what those cat pictures are about :)

This film is truly a work of art and is a must to experience. Every scene an insight into the human condition and an extraordinary mix of superb acting, erudite screenplay and dialogue, and splendid mix of color and design. Don't let this one go by and include it in your personal library of excellent films.

I don't know why but I've never written a cruis a review after singa movie movie on Amazon prime before, but I really liked, The life of Louis Wain.

It certainly was a different type of movie, and it ran a little long at times but I really enjoyed the acting and the actual subtitles for the cats when they meowed...

I really liked the fact it was a. Piece and and it was a true story.. I thought the director captured the life of this unique man in a very special and unique way.

The Electrical life of Louis Wain is Biography drama-Comedy that tells the story of english artist Louis Wain(Benedict Cumberbatch). Who was renowned for his Psychedelic drawings of cats, that changes public perspective of cats forever. While along the way through his work we see as his life and Mental Health slowly declines. While this movie does follow some basic done formula it's does have a charm to it. The film does have the usually setting to these types of films with very whimsley moments, to make every connect to everybody before things happen. Benedict Cumberbatch as Louis i found very enjoyable. This was a role where your not entirely sure how it should be delivered. The real Louis many of of the believe he suffered from Schizophrenia, through it couldn't really be proveing. Regardless he does manges to offer an eccentric preforms. He overall's all a likeable guy, but he has this electric drive that switches on and off through his life. He's very fast spoken and in constant motion. He's also having nightmare and episodes the worst of times hit him and he's just down on his luck. These scenes do mange to have an impact. He starts to become more detached to what's going on around him. Eventually you start to get random subtitles indicating that he's talking to the cat and he understands them. The use of the visuals are a little muddy, but i feel that's intentional. As if everything traumatic is more a blur and fuzzy in the darkness. While everything in the light is more bright and clear. More trying to capture to spark of want he felt with his wife and pet. It did felt however that where the movie lose some drive is in the pacing. The layout of how the chose to go about is fine, though it felt as if certain sections should have been longer and some shorted. Overall the movies rather interesting it has drama nice visuals and cats. If you love cats your in for some cuteness as well, and that's always a bonus.

I have not an inch of doubt that this film will come across as a bit odd and hard to swallow for the masses. And maybe especially for all the fast and the furious main streamers who will vote this down ferociously, trying to prove and to say that it's the movie that's stupid and not them. It's hard because it's not a movie about the achievements or features of a man, as it is a movie about being genuinely human going through testing times and ill equipped to tackle life's curve-balls. It's a sad reality in which we dwell, however this movie was a glimpse of light that should be, and hopefully in time more, cherished for its beautifully depicted picture of a peculiar man and his whimsical, challenging life.

I watched this movie while I was ill one day, and it was definitely worth the watch. I had never heard of Louis Wain, but Cumberbatch has an impressive way of bringing characters to life, and he made Wain's character almost touchable.

The movie begins as a kind of awkward romantic comedy, transforms into a bittersweet romantic tragedy, and from there it becomes a dismal tale of a man's pitiable descent into madness. Just in the first six minutes or so, I got teary-eyes, then I laughed. At first, I thought Wain's portrayal was a bit mocking, but I soon realized that the movie was about contradictions: Wain was foolish, yet brilliant, terrified, yet brave, insane, yet insightful. The movie itself is a contradiction too; at times it is ridiculous, yet it is poignant. Foy's Emily is brilliantly portrayed as well, as she is a mass of adorable contradictions herself. Toby Jones' character is surprisingly heartwarming, and Riseborough finishes strong as the nasty yet ultimately pitiable elder sister.

I did occasionally find the music and cinematography irritating, particularly as they depicted his descent into madness. The first hour or so of the movie is the best part, and is followed by uncomfortable bleakness, but it finishes strong. Perhaps it rather mirrors Wain's own life; cold yet heartwarming, bitter yet sweet.

"The Electrical Life of Louis Wain" is a bio pic about Louis Wain, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, whose drawings helped redefine the cultural perspective on cats. As the movie begins, they do an excellent job of introducing the audience to the character of Louis Wain. He packs his day with so many different random adventures. He goes straight from drawing a dog with both hands to a boxing match to going swimming. He is a man with about 7 different part time jobs at the same time.

The first third of this movie is really good. Cumberbatch has terrific chemistry with the rest of cast and the scenes between him and Claire Foy are just adorable. If the movie had just focused up on this time period of Wain's life, I think we could of had a great, albeit a bit cliched, movie.

Unfortunately, there is a second half of this movie. Biography movies have a difficult job to do. Since most things in real life do not follow a three-act structure, it is up to the writer/director to create a story that feels complete. As opposed to focusing on a singular event in Wain's life like MLK in "Selma" or Lincoln in the movie "Lincoln" the movie goes for a big picture point of view. This makes the movie drag in certain parts and begins to feel pretty repetitive.

In short, the movie overstayed its welcome. I found myself looking at the clock as the third act came around, just waiting for the movie to end.

It is a fun surprise to be perusing all the streaming services available and tripping across a very entertaining film that, heretofore, was unknown.

Such was the case with THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN - a biography (of sorts) of the eponymous English painter, known for his fanciful portraits of cats.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch (in the title role) and Written and Directed by Will Sharpe (BLACK POND) based on a story by Simon Stephenson (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Sharpe), THE ELECTICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN is 1/2 of a very good (maybe even GREAT) film that falls apart in the 2nd half.

The first half of this film finds the eccentric Wain finding love and discovering his artistic talent. It is this 1/2 of the film that draws you in - and must have been what drew the talents of Sharpe, Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth in the first few seasons of THE CROWN) and Cumberbatch to this film. Cumberbatch, of course, is superb as Wain (especially in this first half) and his chemistry with Foy (who plays his love interest/wife) is tremendous and IS the reason to see this film.

However, the film shifts focus, by necessity, in the 2nd half to the rising stardom of Wain and his descent into madness. Toby Jones (as his benefactor) and the always under-rated Andrea Riseborough (OBLIVION) take center stage with Cumberbatch in this part of the film and the love, fun, whimsey and depth of the first 1/2 of the film disappears. Riseborough, particularly, suffers from a poorly written role where her character - Wain's disapproving sister - is (in essence) the "bad guy", so Sharpe and Stephenson replace love, warmth and support with disapproval, anger and madness. While this is true to the life that Wain lived, it didn't make for a particularly interesting 2nd half of a film.

Come for Benedict's and Foy's chemistry and performances, stay for the rest because...well...it's still pretty good.

Letter Grade: B

7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)