The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


CultureCinemaMovie reviews

St Vincent

St Vincent | Movie review
30 November 2014
Andriana Hambi
Avatar
Andriana Hambi
30 November 2014

Movie and show review

Andriana Hambi

St Vincent

★★★★★

Release date

5th December 2014

Links

FacebookWebsite

It’s easy to let the familiar tale of the grumpy old man reluctantly befriending a young boy pass you by, but St Vincent’s stellar cast, including Bill Murray, Terrence Howard and Melissa McCarthy, might make you think again.

st_vincent_ver8_xlgChild of separation, Oliver, finds friendship in bitter drunkard Vincent who acts as a kind of babysitter/gambling partner. Although charming, enjoyable and entertaining, this film struggles to get to the heart of the characters. The gambling storyline, featuring Howard as the least threatening bookie ever, seems out of place in this feel-good story of intergenerational bonding. Although a lot of expectation has been laid on this film, it seems to fall flat in some ways.

The untouchable Bill Murray plays the ever-familiar curmudgeon with a heart of gold, but while being both charismatic and unbearable, most of the film sees Murray bring little new life to the role. Although somewhat dull, it is refreshing to see McCarthy in a role without toilet jokes and rampant swearing for the first time since The Gilmore Girls. The shining star, and by far the most interesting aspect of this film, is Jaeden Lieberher in his portrayal of young Oliver. His performance combines the innocence and curiosity you’d expect from a nine-year-old boy with wisdom and bravery far beyond his years. If nothing else, this film is worth a watch purely for his performance.

Theodore Melfi does a good job of peeling back the layers of the seemingly unlikeable Vincent. The first half of the film feels a little neglected, but the latter half makes up for its shortcomings in both heart and humour. Naomi Watts plays “lady of the night” Daka, and provides most of the best lines and truths. She is somewhat incongruous to the story, but unlike Howard’s character, she earns her place there with a truly earnest and delightful performance.

The bare bones of this film show real promise, and perhaps if some of the extra story lines were axed, and the film focused on the undoubtedly interesting character of Vincent, then this might have made for a fascinating character movie. But the predictability of the set up means it sticks on a feel-good trajectory, and we are left with a charming but plain re-imagining of a very familiar story.

★★★★★

Andriana Hambi

St Vincent is released nationwide on 5th December 2014.

Watch the trailer for St Vincent here:

Related Itemsmoviereviewst vincent

More in Movie reviews

The Wound (Inxeba)

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Avengers: Infinity War

★★★★★
Aidan Milan
Read More

The Outsider

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Beast

★★★★★
Euan Franklin
Read More

Every Day

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Big Fish and Begonia

★★★★★
Chloe Sizer
Read More

Funny Cow

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Let the Sunshine In

★★★★★
Euan Franklin
Read More

The Leisure Seeker

★★★★★
Daniel Amir
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Andriana Hambi

St Vincent

★★★★★

Release date

5th December 2014

Links

FacebookWebsite

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Project Gastronomía: How will Londoners eat in 2050? A symposium on gastronomy and multisensory design
    Food & Drinks
  • Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018
    Food & Drinks
  • Tribeca Film Festival 2018: On the red carpet with the stars of Westworld season 2
    Cinema
  • Tokio Myers at the Forum
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema
  • The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Prudes at the Royal Court
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Absolute Hell at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Wound (Inxeba)
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018
    Food & Drinks
  • The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Prudes at the Royal Court
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Wound (Inxeba)
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Strictly Ballroom at Piccadilly Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Writer at the Almeida Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre

Instagram

Something is wrong. Response takes too long or there is JS error. Press Ctrl+Shift+J or Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • New London restaurant openings and pop-ups
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Subscribe
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

Are You Here | Movie review
Diplomacy | Movie review