Mind the gap for Murdoch

Critics were raving when Iris hit the cinema, marvelling at the story of famous novelist and intellectual Iris Murdoch, who died several years ago after slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's disease. The collection of heavy-hitting actors emphasises the weight of the story, with Kate Winslet and Judi Dench sharing duties as Murdoch herself. The ever-superb Jim Broadbent won an Oscar for his portrayal of bumbling old John Bayley, and Hugh Bonneville (Notting Hill) is perfectly cast as the younger version, echoing Broadbent's performance with eery accuracy.

The problem isn't with the cast, who all give sterling performances, but with the direction of the movie itself. Is it a biopic, or is it simply an account of what it's like to lose a loved one to Alzheimer's? In the end, Iris goes for a half-hearted stab at both and leaves the viewer feeling a little as if this is really one half of a greater, more ambitious film.

Winslet tries her hardest to capture the energy and zest that made Iris Murdoch such a compelling individual, but more of these early scenes would have emphasised the depth of the relationship between Bayley and Murdoch. By the time we reach Dench and Broadbent, the level of devotion between the two seems a little flat and somewhat without reason, considering her rampant sexuality.

Perhaps this is just because the small-screen version lacks some of the emotional impact that it had at the cinema. Whatever the case, Dench's performance as a woman slowly losing the only thing that she really cares about - her mind - is still as compelling as it ever was. (BJ)