Living here is a real realistic look through a unique journey that presents the main features of McKellen's life from early childhood to his career and career. The film seems to offer a realistic look using the abundance of photography from McKellen's own albums and cinematic scenes. This film may offer this mysterious life and behind the scenes for that unique artistic phenomenon.
Eben Bolter's almost expressionist lighting gives the red-chair interviews a theatrical warmth. The editing, like the acting, is impressively off-handed in the recreated scenes, which flip by like quickly turned pages in a book of memories.
A comprehensive and entertaining enough overview ... [but] Sir Ian deserves at least two hours ... it's a bit of everything in 92 minutes, and as such, it's completely entertaining, charming and lovely while also being annoyingly unsatisfying.
McKellen: Playing the Part is a celebration of a life particularly well-lived. McKellen emerges as a clear-eyed, impish, utterly professional and pragmatic optimist.
