<strong><span class="s1">Arthur Newman<br/></span>Director: Dante Ariola</strong><br/><strong>Starring: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt</strong><br/><strong>*</strong> The Oscar-winner Firth plays a man in search of a new life as he fakes his own death and goes on a voyage of self-discovery with a wild-hearted young woman (Blunt). Neat premise aside, there's very little about <em>Arthur Newman</em> that stands out – the plot is contrived, the characters broadly drawn and their adventures at best bland, at worst confounding. It’s the type of “reinvention” story Hollywood believes it does so well, but in reality produces a mound of middle-age wish fulfilment. The leads are interesting, but nowhere near the usual levels of brilliance either actor can achieve. Blunt’s “troubled” character is an indie drama stereotype, and even the normally magnetic Firth can’t make you forget the fact that this is a far-fetched story, told in a rather unappealing way. <strong><a href="mailto:artslife@thenational.ae">artslife@thenational.ae</a></strong> Follow us Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenationalArtsandLife">Facebook</a> for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.
