Doctor Strange

Score:  **** out of ***** (A-)

Directed by Scott Derrickson
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, et. al.
Running time: 115 minutes
Rated PG-13

Long Story Short:  Doctor Strange is the latest superhero film from Marvel Studios, and like Guardians of the Galaxy, it extends the reach of the genre.  Benedict Cumberbatch is perfectly suited for the title role and gives the film a great anchor while spectacular special effects provide dazzle like few others.  Yet it's all grounded in good acting, a good script and pacing, resulting in another high quality Marvel film.  Highly recommended for all, whether or not you're a fan of the genre.


In New York City, Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is a great neurosurgeon and knows it, humiliating colleagues in showing off and zooming around town in his Lamborghini.  One day, his ego leads him to disaster - and on the other side of the table in his own hospital.  Dr. Strange's mind remains as sharp as a scalpel, but his hands have been ruined and he is unable even to shave.  Strange searches the globe for something or someone to heal his hands but despairs as he continues to fail, turning against the few who remain close to him like Dr. Palmer (McAdams).  He finally turns to an old story he heard about a man who should have been permanently paralyzed but now walks again; tracking him down, Strange is pointed to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Strange finds there a compound full of unusual individuals - and even more unbelievable revelations about the nature of reality itself.  The leader of the group, known as the Ancient One (Swinton), acknowledges that they are capable of healing his hands, but only if Strange is able to relearn what he knows is possible in the world.  Determined to return to his old life, Strange is a quick study - but lurking in the shadows are forces seeking to harness that same power for evil.

Doctor Strange reaps the benefits of a well-chosen and engaged cast that brings a, well, strange story to life.  Benedict Cumberbatch, an actor well-known and regarded for brilliant enigma roles, plays the title character.  There are times when casting against type is great, but Cumberbatch seemed so tailor-made for the role that he was an obvious choice.  Cumberbatch fully inhabits Strange, from the physical performance (action scenes to his American accent) to the human.  He makes both a believable star surgeon and an entirely new kind of action star, his movements melding seamlessly with the awe-inspiring CGI.  Cumberbatch mostly keeps Strange's feelings reserved, with a few notable exceptions; this bearing is in line with the story and Strange's background.  Tilda Swinton, known for her unusual roles, plays the Ancient One.  This role is actually pretty straightforward for her, despite sporting a shaved head, as the guru and leader of the world's sorcerers.  Still, Swinton's acting makes the role appropriately mysterious, with both compassion and menace lurking just underneath the serene surface.  The other roles are comparatively small yet also impressive.  Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the Ancient One's lieutenant, at first a standard role which by the end morphs into a crucial one for future films; Rachel McAdams makes the most of her brief but important time as Strange's closest "normal" relationship; Mads Mikkelsen's villain is rather shallow but the actor knows how to play a bad guy; and Benedict Wong provides great comic relief as the sorcerers' librarian.

Doctor Strange is yet another resounding success for Marvel in pushing the boundaries of the superhero film genre.  It uses a very familiar story structure, but executes it with such energy - produced by the actors, the ideas, and the visuals - that the film easily defines its own, incredibly entertaining identity.  Yes, this is another origin story, but one that is less like the typical superhero than an interesting combination of The Matrix, Star Wars, and Harry Potter.  The script introduces Dr. Strange, the man, in a straightforward yet also an effective and prompt manner.  Then it's off to the races when Dr. Strange meets the sorcerers.  Here again the script - and direction - displays a subtle yet crucial balance.  The amazing new aspects of reality are revealed so as to convey an appropriate sense of awe but not to the degree that the audience becomes numbed to them, nor do they overwhelm the characters.  But it's not all about neat tricks and dazzling visuals (see more below).  Doctor Strange has some great food for thought as well, particularly around the theme of whether means justify ends.  The film doesn't dwell on these - it (rightfully, in my opinion) prioritizes the adventure elements and therefore avoids tonal incongruity.

The film's magical reality truly is awesome.  Not only is the CGI stunningly realistic and enveloping (think Inception on steroids), but it's thoughtfully designed and nothing is there without reason.  There are several incredible action scenes, particularly Dr. Strange's first encounter with the main villain.  To top it all off, Doctor Strange is one of the funniest in a catalog of Marvel films that are always humorous to some degree.  The standout here is not any of the human characters, but a certain item of clothing.  Doctor Strange isn't perfect, most notably character development and emotional grounding are minimal, and the villain isn't all that interesting.  But as in the case of its Big Ideas (see above), the filmmakers were wise to instead accentuate the strong focal points of the film.

***

Doctor Strange is one of the year's strongest films, and to me cements Marvel's status as the Pixar of superhero films.  The studio churns out its films - about two a year - at an amazing rate, especially considering the high quality of virtually every single one.  Rather than stick with one winning formula, the studio has boldly expanded the limits of the genre (in film, anyway), enriching every element of its films - stories, characters, visuals, ideas.  Had Doctor Strange been released in 2008 or earlier - even granted today's technical capabilities - I would have been quite skeptical.  But Marvel has proven itself and so I came in with every expectation that it would be strong film.  In Hollywood today, that is a rare thing.  Certainly, I am a fan of the genre but I don't think the general quality of the studio's productions can be denied.  I highly recommend this film, in particular, to anyone - even if you aren't a fan of the genre yourself.




*By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50143602