UPDATE: The Letterboxd reviewer corrected himself, he was actually referring to Anya Taylor-Joy as the standout and not Taylor Swift.

I’m not hearing good things about David O. Russell’s “Canterbury Glass” which recently had a test-screening in the East Coast earlier this week. This feels like a bomb in the making, I truly hope I’m wrong. I haven’t been able to convince the people I’ve spoken with to publish their reactions on here, but there is a review making the rounds online (via Letterboxd):

“Just saw the film, I had to sign an NDA so I can’t say much. I get it, it’s a work in progress… But oh man, they need to fix the beginning. Really went in wanting to like this. Just… ugh, so frustrating because the ending was really good. I’m looking forward to seeing the final version, I really hope they make it airtight. Christian Bale deserves better. His character deserves more focus and depth. Without giving anything away, Anya Taylor-Joy was easily one of the best parts of the movie. And she’s in it for a pretty good amount of time (she’s not a throwaway character by any means).”

RESPONSE to LB review:

“Hey! I saw the screening too. It felt like most of Russell’s effort was built into legitimatizing Taylor-Joy’s acting abilities than the film surrounding her. She’s in the hunt for an Oscar nomination or even a win because, without spoiling, what she accomplished was remarkable (think Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything meets Hathaway in Les Miserables). But I do fear she could end up like Hong Chau in Downsizing if the film isn’t fixed editing wise in post.”

Some other sources weren’t too keen on it either. This feels like a disaster, especially if Taylor-Joy is the actual standout of the cast. Another person, who also liked Taylor-Joy, mentioned that De Niro was great. The film is also said to be on the lengthier side, running way over 2 hours.

On Robbie:

“Margot [Robbie] is pretty good for the most part, she’s just given some really cheesy lines throughout but that’s more of the movie’s fault than hers. It’s not the deepest role and probably won’t get her nominated. It’s hard to explain without revealing too much, but the way she’s written is a little inconsistent”

On Bale:

“I can’t say too much about Christian Bale’s character without spoiling what the movie is about, but he’s fantastic as always and it’s a very different role for him - still keeps in line with his method acting transformations. I just wish they focused on him more, that’s my only complaint with his character”

We can confirm the cast of this new O. Russell endeavour includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Robert De Niro, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Zoe Saldana, Chris Rock, Mike Myers and Taylor Swift. 

Filming on “Canterbury Glass” began in January of 2021 and wrapped in March. Plot details remain mum, but IMDB has the following synopsis: “[The film] revolves around a doctor and lawyer who form an unlikely partnership”.

An updates synopsis in the screening invite stated : “Set in the 1930s, this film follows three friends who witness a murder, become suspects themselves, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.”

There is currently no release date for “Canterbury Glass.”

Despite being out of the spotlight for close to 6 years now, ever since “Canterbury Glass” was announced as O. Russell’s next film, the writer-director has had think pieces written about him and his past abusive on-set behaviors. There is no doubt going to be a campaign to smear him once the movie comes out, I wrote about it on 06.03.21 in a write-up titled “Will David O. Russell Get ‘Canceled’?”