NOMINATED: Best Film, San Sebastián International Film Festival
“Ben Wheatley's shiny, luxuriously appointed JG Ballard adaptation serves up orgiastic
mayhem on a silver platter” Tim Robey, The Telegraph
Dr. Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) has just moved into a new tower block, constructed with the
idea that it would be a crucible for change – or at least, that’s how the building’s architect
(Jeremy Irons) puts it. Finding himself lost in this looming, grey complex and its layers of warring
classes the rich at the top, the poor below Laing gradually observes that this simple tower
block has turned into a bizarre social experiment. And yet, with no small glimmer of black
humour, he finds it becomes the first place in his life he can call ‘home.’
Hiddleston finally gets the lead in a film that understands his unique ability to portray
compressed spiritual torment under a glossy veneer of cool, but unexpected choices such as
Elisabeth Moss as a feckless mothertobe, or Sienna Miller as the sultry and mysterious flame
to Laing, and Luke Evans as a nearrabid documentarymaker, all add up to make this the
genuine melting pot that J.G. Ballard’s words first succeeded in creating on the page.
Gary Green
Flickreel
Followed by a Q+A with Ben Wheatley
