My Policeman

2022 - 9 - 12

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Roger Ebert"

My Policeman movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert (Roger Ebert)

Sometimes I look at Harry Styles and I feel bad for him. Not because he isn't getting a fair shake, but because someone told him he could be a leading man ...

“My Policeman” is surface-level queer representation lacking in visual imagination and begging for better performances. We come to find, however, that this trio doesn’t fit into easy boxes: Tom demands law and order; Emma is homophobic; and Patrick is somehow their friend. That is, until we discover that Tom and Patrick are in a closeted sexual relationship. The pain that Patrick caused the couple is what “My Policeman” hopes to tell us about. [Michael Grandage](/cast-and-crew/michael-grandage), “My Policeman” begins in the present day with the older versions of these characters: Tom ( [Linus Roache](/cast-and-crew/linus-roache)) and Marion ( [Gina McKee](/cast-and-crew/gina-mckee)), now retired, live in a seaside town as they go through the motions of their milquetoast marriage. Their steady march toward resignation—which Tom momentarily pauses whenever he visits the sea with their dog—is interrupted with the arrival of their old, now estranged friend Patrick ( [Rupert Everett](/cast-and-crew/rupert-everett)).

'My Policeman' Review: Harry Styles Struggles Through a Troubled ... (Collider.com)

In his third feature film, Harry Styles is still seeking to establish a cinematic identity for himself in My Policeman.

For all the anticipation about this being a star turn for Styles, the lack of depth in his performance and of the film itself ensures it won’t leave nearly the impression it set out to. It is far too neat, relying on a bit of hollow hand waving and a forced false equivalency, when we are still reeling from the revelation that we just heard. Without giving away any details, there is a massive revelation that comes in the last ten minutes that smashes through the story like a freight train. Regrettably, much of this seems caught up in how Styles himself is uncertain and nervous as an actor playing the character. The way it plays out is akin to someone coming up to you, whispering something truly horrifying in your ear, before waving goodbye and leaving with no further explanation. Shedding this is a tough task for even the most talented of performers and Styles just isn't skilled enough yet as an actor to do so. However, there is something about Styles that feels distinct in observing how he is still finding his footing. This explodes in one moment when the three share dinner at home together and the topic of whether Marion will continue to work comes up. Styles only has a couple of modes of emoting, either repressed or angry, making the shift between them quite jarring in a way that feels rushed. He refuses to even discuss the past, disengaging at any moment it is even tangentially referenced. While Marion tries to care for him, Tom won’t even acknowledge his presence and flies into a rage whenever it is brought up to him. This includes the museum where Patrick works and a recital where Tom falls asleep.

Harry Styles' My Policeman called "tame", "stodgy", and "poignant" in ... (GamesRadar+)

Michael Grandage's gay romance drama struggles to juggle its two timelines and feels all too familiar, critics argue.

All six actors deliver fine enough work to carry the movie (I thought Harry Styles was better here than in Don’t Worry Darling) but I found the ending to be incredibly rushed. And we hope you enjoy it." I went in skeptical about Harry Styles, but came away impressed. #MyPoliceman is a lovely and quietly devastating film. "Time and trauma have not been good to these men, but the writing doesn’t offer any solid characterization or sparks of recognition. Subtly conveying the pain of someone who realizes the love of his life will soon be lost before his love does. [The Guardian's Benjamin Lee](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/11/my-policeman-review-harry-styles-is-arrestingly-awkward-in-stodgy-gay-romance) (opens in new tab) awards the picture just two stars in his write-up, arguing that Styles is "arrestingly awkward" at Tom. "But for me, it doesn’t quite reach its full potential." "A disappointingly drab and stridently straightforward love triangle saga overstuffed with furtive glances and maudlin moping while underpowered by a blank lead performance." Their relationship proves conflicting for Tom, however, due to his affections for museum curator Patrick (Peaky Blinders' David Dawson). The first reviews for Harry Styles' My Policeman are in – and the romance drama doesn't seem to be wowing critics out of Toronto Film Festival. Based on the book of the same name by Bethan Roberts, the movie is set across two different timelines – something many of the reactions claim it doesn't juggle well.

Harry Styles earns praise for his "daring performance" in My ... (PopBuzz)

The first reviews are in and Harry Styles is winning praise for his performance in My Policeman.

Harry Styles had a strong performance as the titular character. Harry Styles leads a brilliant ensemble and all 3 of the main cast delivered exceptional performances filled with nuance, passion and poise. Great cinematography and a tight script makes this one to watch as the Oscars race begins. Harry Styles gave a daring performance. The film will then be available on Amazon Prime from November 1st. It’s an important story that shows how many queer folks the system left behind in past generation. I didn’t expect him to be that good, but he was really really good in this film. And what’s Harry Styles’ acting like in the film? Emma Corrin was also quite terrific.— Rama's Screen @ TIFF '22 (@RamasScreen) One film critic who watched the film at the premiere gave Harry’s acting a positive review, writing: “#MyPoliceman truly moved me. Another praised both Harry and Emma’s performance, saying: “MY POLICEMAN evoked so much passion & sadness. Emma Corrin was also quite terrific.”

'My Policeman' Has Some Very Bad Reviews, Blame Harry Styles ... (Jordan Ruimy)

I wisely skipped every screening of “My Policeman” at TIFF. I'm utterly convinced that Harry Styles is a terrible actor and any movie he stars in will be ...

The film is based on the book by Bethan Roberts, and directed by Michael Grandage. [50% on Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_policeman). There’s a forcefulness to his delivery that I don’t think can be fixed by acting coaches.

Harry Styles Greets Fans, Joins Cast & Director for 'My Policeman ... (Billboard)

Harry Styles plays the antithesis of his colorful, free-to-be-me self in this adaptation of Bethan Roberts' 2012 book.

Taking that to mean him, Styles made a sheepish face and pretended to dash off the stage, which was met with laughter and applause. Harry for me was the young man with all of his future ahead of him and all that possibility and color and potential. So all of that benefits from a real connection with the people you work with, which I felt very lucky to have during this project.” “And then in the more intense scenes, there’s a lot of trust and a safety there. 11) for the world premiere of the romantic drama [My Policeman](https://www.billboard.com/t/my-policeman/), a beautiful (and sad) statement about love, regret and freedom. Some fans lucky enough to get tickets didn’t even know what the film was about and admitted they wouldn’t see it if Styles wasn’t in it.

My Policeman cast get standing ovation at Toronto premiere (The Independent)

Styles plays a 1950s police officer married to a woman while having an affair with a male museum curator in the film.

[Styles has previously spoken out about the portrayal of sex between men in My Policeman](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/harry-styles-my-policeman-trailer-gay-sex-scenes-b2150574.html). [included bizarre allegations of Styles spitting on co-star Chris Pine](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/harry-styles-chris-pine-spitting-video-b2161433.html) at the Venice Film Festival. [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) “We all loved working on this film so much. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. “Thank you so much to everyone here, on behalf of all of us, for this wonderful, wonderful award,” Styles said. [Harry Styles](/topic/harry-styles) and the cast of My Policeman got a standing ovation for their performances after the film premiered the Toronto International Film Festival.

First Impressions Of My Policeman Are Here, And People Can't Stop ... (Cinema Blend)

Critics weighed in on My Policeman in early reviews from the Toronto International Film Festival, particularly Harry Styles' performance.

[like Don't Worry Darling, is a divisive film](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/dont-worry-darling-earns-5-minute-applause-at-venice-film-festival-but-the-early-reviews-are-more-mixed), with many strong opinions about its narrative and performances involved. He said MY POLICEMAN isn’t “a gay story about these guys being gay.’ It’s about love and about wasted time to me.” Those remarks — and his performance — suggest H*rry St*les didn’t understand the assignment. Not much works in MY POLICEMAN, a stuffy period piece lacking chemistry, specificity, and namely, good acting. The film is devastating and heartbreaking. It's arresting and simply beautiful. [September 12, 2022] A sweet & sometimes somber love story, #MyPoliceman features excellent performances across the board, in particular David Dawson, Emma Corrin and Harry Styles. Harry Styles had a strong performance as the titular character. It’s an important story that shows how many queer folks the system left behind in past generation. The film is a period drama about a love triangle between a policeman, museum curator and a school teacher. The trailer attracted a lot of attention from Styles’ fans, but now critics who have seen the film are weighing in. Harry Styles has been surprisingly at the forefront of the film festival circuit over the last few weeks, as the singer has launched his acting career to a new level.

My Policeman: Is Harry Styles actually in the running to win an Oscar? (British GQ)

The verdict is in for My Policeman – let's weigh up Harry Styles' chances of winning as Oscar.

Hugh Jackman may get in for The Son (if he can overcome the film’s middling reviews), and we can't forget Austin Butler's show-stopping turn in [Elvis](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/how-austin-butler-became-elvis). [Brendan Fraser](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/brendan-fraser-the-whale-review) is almost a guaranteed lock for his transformative comeback as a regretful father in Darren Aranofsky's The Whale, while Colin Farrell's chances just got a boost thanks to his win at Venice. [Harry](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/article/harry-styles-venice-photocall-2022) is getting some good reviews. [Harry Styles](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/harry-styles-chris-pine-spit), the actor. After a rocky Autumn festival season with Don't Worry Darling, word is significantly more promising for his next film, [My Policeman](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/harry-styles-my-policeman). The race for the Best Actor nod is already packed.

Harry Styles' frigid 'My Policeman' should be locked up (New York Post)

Harry Styles, David Dawson and Emma Corrin star in "My Policeman," which comes to Prime Video on Nov. 4 and premiered at the Toronto International Film ...

4](https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/storefront?filterId=OFFER_FILTER%3DPRIME&tag=nypost-20&asc_refurl=https://nypost.com/2022/09/12/harry-styles-frigid-my-policeman-should-be-locked-up/&asc_source=web). Their private, youthful world must contrast with the dramatically-crashing-waves frame story set in 1999, when older Tom (Linus Roache) lives with his wife Marion (Gina McKee), and they take in older Patrick (Rupert Everett) after he’s had a stroke. And who doesn’t adore the gutsy Corrin, who can hop from lamb-like innocence to irrepressible malice in an instant? Tom and Patrick should represent freedom from the ’50s oppression waiting for them outside the door. Styles plays the titular policeman (a word uttered so, so many times) in 1952 England named Tom, who starts to realize he’s gay after he meets Patrick (David Dawson), a confident art-museum curator. Confused Tom leaves in a hurry, and later comes crawling back in an emotional storm.

TIFF 2022: Harry Styles feels 'lucky' at 'My Policeman' premiere (Los Angeles Times)

Harry Styles fans were out in full force for the debut of his romantic drama 'My Policeman,' and the role is a sign of the times.

[flown in the face of gender convention](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-10-18/billy-porter-harry-styles-vogue-dress-cover). When you have the opportunity to work with people that you just feel good being around — they’re both wonderful people to be around — I think having a base of a real friendship outside of the characters allows for the friendship scenes ... The narrative weaves in and out of their 1950s story and their 1990s reunion as a trio (played by Linus Roache, Gina McKee and Rupert Everett, respectively), after something devastating has happened — the third devastating thing to happen to that character. Forget the days of Sinatra or Presley, it wasn’t that long ago (1993, in fact) that And even the Crosby “Going My Way” and the Sinatra “From Here to Eternity” were big-studio pictures in a big-studio world of carefully cultivated personae designed for maximum acceptability. Even David Bowie, who cut a very different swath in his acting efforts, referred to his widely panned “Just a Gigolo” as “My 32 Elvis movies rolled into one.” Those with serious screen ambitions — Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra are among those to win Oscars for their acting — were the exceptions that proved the “Beach Blanket Bingo” rule.

Harry Styles on Building "Trust and Safety” With 'My Policeman ... (Cosmopolitan.com)

At the premiere of 'My Policeman' last night, Harry Styles spoke about creating trust with his co-stars Emma Corrin and David Dawson.

"We had three weeks to break down the scenes and talk about them, a lot of talking, which is lovely. "We had about two, three weeks rehearsal, which is very rare in film," Corrin said. "I felt very lucky to get to work with David and Emma," Styles said. Then Tom meets Marion (Emma Corrin), a friend of his sister's, who he sees as the perfect person to act as a cover-up so he and Patrick can continue their relationship. He meets Patrick (David Dawson), a museum curator who is much more in touch with his sexuality, and they start a relationship in secret. And last night, the world finally got to see [My Policeman](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a36338564/harry-styles-emma-corrin-kissing-picture/) in its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

My Policeman

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