Watched a week and a half ago
I liked Wit. I like poetry, and language, and grappling with the idea of death, so I was advantaged as a viewer. Maybe it should have stayed a play; I'm guessing it was only made a movie to reach new audience, not because it was destined by nature to be a movie. It's probably better as a play. But the trade-off is interesting: the film dedicates considerable surface area to Emma Thompson's micro-expressions, which wouldn't succeed so well on a large stage; yet the stilted, literary feel doesn't work as well in an essentially escapist medium, so ultimately I'd rather see it on the stage. Her micro-acting, however legendary, doesn't feel quite authentic anyway in this script. Least authentic is the poetry talk -- it's informed, but unrealistic. Maybe it wouldn't matter so much onstage. It frustrated me a little. It's like the physics talk in Interstellar -- it's exciting for me to hear, and the writers' research shows, but it's also a little annoying and unrealistic.
I liked the movie. I liked the literary and morbid themes. And I liked her performance, though it doesn't align with my typical interest. Without the social justification behind this viewing, I don't think I ever would have watched it. It's quite a ways from my standard criteria. But it's not so far from my affection and appreciation.
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