JOHN MALKOVICH The Music Critic
John Malkovich weighs in on Chopin, subjecting one of classical music’s great composers to the brutal humor of his early critics
What happens when today’s icons of classical music are resubjected to the scrutiny of early audiences? In his stage performance The Music Critic, John Malkovich seeks to do just this, casting a comedic shadow of disdain over some of the greatest known composers of the 18th and 19th centuries – delving into harsh criticism delivered before they secured their place in history.
Committed to film by Greek director Yannis Dimolitsas, The Music Critic presents a captivating extract from the original performance, created by Aleksey Igudesman for Athens’ Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Weighing in on Chopin while a live orchestra performs his music, a humorous narrative unfolds as the actor descends into a ruthless and uncompromising critique of the influential Polish composer.
“I chose to focus on Chopin’s critique, as it struck me as exceptionally cruel yet hilariously ironic. We decided to film it as simply as possible in order to capture John Malkovich’s raw interpretation. I wanted to transport the audience into a realistic observation of John’s psychological composition.”
Stripping the seriousness out of high culture through the low-blows it was once dealt, under Dimolitsas’ lens, Malkovich desanctifies the classical music tradition in the style of a comedic roast. Repositioning inarguable greats through those opposed to their meteoric rise, the film considers the not-so-easy ascent of figures written into history, and the sour assessments that came before their celebrated era.
Director / YANNIS DIMOLITSAS
Producer / YORGOS LYKIARDOPOULOS
Produced by / LYKOFOS PRODUCTIONS
A10 Post / MANTHOS SARDIS