Mr. Malcolm’s List

Based on a book by Suzanne Allain, Mr. Malcolm’s List details the complications that ensue after a young woman (Freida Pinto’s Selina Dalton) attempts to court the mysterious title figure (Sope Dìrísù) in 19th century England. It’s a familiar premise that’s employed to watchable yet thoroughly unremarkable effect by Emma Holly Jones, as the filmmaker, working from a script by Allain, delivers an often extraordinarily bland endeavor that does, in addition, take an awfully long time to get going – with the movie suffering from a leaden opening stretch that doesn’t possess much in the way of attention-grabbing, compelling attributes. And although both Pinto and Dìrísù turn in competent but far-from-magnetic work, Mr. Malcolm’s List’s staid vibe is generally alleviated by an increasingly engaging plot and the efforts of a strong, charismatic supporting cast that includes Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Theo James. (The latter’s tremendously appealing performance remains a highlight within the proceedings, ultimately.) By the time the satisfying finale rolls around, Mr. Malcolm’s List has cemented its place as a decent-enough period piece that could’ve used just a little more ambition on Jones’ part (ie it’s just so relentlessly generic and styleless).

**1/2 out of ****