THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN is a true story about the famous eccentric painter of cats in the late 1880s to early 1930s. His cat art is remembered for being both realistic and outlandish. Louis Wain is world-renowned to this day, yet little has been shared about his erratic mental state.
Benedict Cumberbatch created a complete, rich characterization of the haunted Louis, a man trapped in grief and recurring nightmares. He is the best part of this film. Your heart ached for how he tried to survive his losses. Claire Foy gives a strong, quirky, memorable performance as Emily. They made a sweet pair, but it was not enough to overcome this uneven movie. Too many questions were unanswered, and the timeline left much to be desired.
THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN stands basically on Cumberbatch’s shoulders. It is a shame, with such an inspiring story to tell. They had only “to look.”
It is available to stream on AMAZON PRIME.
