The Lesson, 2023.
Directed by Alice Troughton.
Starring Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy, Daryl McCormack, Stephen McMillan, Crispin Letts, and Tomas Spencer.
SYNOPSIS:
Liam, an aspiring and ambitious young writer, eagerly accepts a tutoring position at the family estate of his idol, renowned author J.M. Sinclair. But soon, Liam realizes that he is ensnared in a web of family secrets, resentment, and retribution. Sinclair, his wife Hélène, and their son Bertie all guard a dark past, one that threatens Liam’s future as well as their own.
According to Richard E. Grant’s revered author J.M. Sinclair in director Alice Troughton’s (from a script by Alex MacKeith) twisty thriller centered on writers The Lesson, good writers borrow, and great writers steal. Even Quentin Tarantino, one of our greatest living writers and directors, has admitted to taking ideas from other stories to put his spin on them. Then there are consumers constantly bemoaning that there seem to be no original ideas. Once again, J.M. insists they don’t exist. Or maybe he’s just a hack with secrets to hide.
Whatever the case may be, J.M. Sinclair has found great success in life, pressuring his teenage son Bertie (Stephen McMillan) to follow in his footsteps. The boy is an Oxford candidate and certainly intelligent but requires a tutor to help them learn the house style of that prestigious school while also broadening his literary knowledge. Even if J.M. Sinclair weren’t busy trying to finish a novel, he doesn’t have the necessary patience for teaching, often coming across as the stereotypical narcissistic writer with a lack of understanding for his son’s emotions, practically going out of his way to neglect his wife Hélène (Julie Delpy).
As such, the wealthy family brings aspiring writer Liam Sommers (Daryl McCormack) to their estate, hiring him off the books and with nondisclosure agreements to help Bertie get into Oxford. Liam also happens to be a superfan of J.M. Sinclair, hoping that the famed author will take a look at his novel. It also turns out that Liam takes J.M. Sinclair’s public advice to heart, comfortable making sticky notes of his experiences around this family to implement into his novel. Meanwhile, Hélène gives Liam flattering looks from a room that conveniently overlooks hers while J.M. Sinclair struggles to satisfy her sexually.
Liam is mostly a professional tutor, which comes through in a capable performance from Daryl McCormack), but as his fascination with J.M. Sinclair deepens through physical proximity and conversation, he begins finding ways to get into his good graces, such as assisting with basic computer troubleshooting to ensure his writing never disappears, which opens the author up to reading each other’s work and offering sound advice. Needless to say, J.M. Sinclair is a self-centered egomaniac (played to perfection by Richard E. Grant) who tears down Liam’s writing, setting in motion a more sinister narrative arc. And one of the film’s only strengths is the skill with which Daryl McCormack maintains the character’s composure while slowly letting through cracks of mental breakdown as his actions become mischievous and unhinged.
There is also a depressing backstory for the rich family that also comes back into play. However, The Lesson spends so much time setting up its characters and premise that by the time the filmmakers make that shift into thriller territory, there aren’t many surprises left, meaning that it’s also never really suspenseful. Even as a commentary on the narcissism of some writers pr the toxic expectations some fathers place on sons, the film lacks profound insight. The chess play between Liam and J.M Sinclair is moderately engaging due to the performances but is lost in a narrative that never quite finds its verve and rhythm.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
