Rent Typist Artist Pirate King (2022)

Not as good as I was hoping - Typist Artist Pirate King review by LC

Although the film is OK, the events are mostly made up, so the amount that this reflects on Audrey Amiss herself is unclear. Monica Dolan is great as always, but the road-trip style of the film made it too convenient and unbelievable to take seriously.

Didn't ring true to life - Typist Artist Pirate King review by CB

I only found out belatedly (after I'd given up on it just over half way through) that this was based on a true story. My problem with it was that it didn't ring true. Having known many people with a range of different mental health conditions, there was very little in this that felt 'true to life'. The performances felt like people acting rather than real believable people.

Road Movie with a difference - Typist Artist Pirate King review by KR1960

Probably best ever performance from Monica Dolan and I enjoyed this film very much and learnt something about Mental Health and how loved ones adapt and grow as a result . Excellent cast and brave direction

Typist Artist Pirate King - Typist Artist Pirate King review by EG

I’m afraid I gave up on this one after about 45 minutes, when I finally pressed the ‘Off’  button.  Some scenes were just too unbelievable, which made tedious viewing.  I like Monica Dolan, Kelly MacDonald and Gina McKee (though I didn’t make it as far as her appearance), but not in this film.

Ok Road Movie - Typist Artist Pirate King review by GI

This road movie creates a fictionalised account of an episode in the life of artist Audrey Amiss here played with manic intensity by Monica Dolan. The real Amiss was an artist who had spent many years in mental institutions and in this film her original artwork is littered throughout. The fictional Amiss lives in London but due to her mental health issues she is visited every two weeks by a psychiatric community nurse, Sandra (Kelly Macdonald) who receives the abuse and insults from Audrey as all part of the job. But when Audrey asks Sandra to take her to an area gallery where she claims her work is to be exhibited she reluctantly agrees only to find the gallery is in Sunderland nearly 300 miles away. But off they go on this trip where Sandra has to deal with Audrey's incessant talking, self justifying and erratic behaviour but of course they inevitable find a bond especially when Sandra convinces Audrey to visit her sister (Gina McKee). The film is heartfelt, humorous and a simple enough tale with a boisterous performance by Dolan although Macdonald's role is overshadowed somewhat. It's enjoyable enough but it lacks the satisfactory story arc and ending that is promised but never really arrives.

Good in parts, a character study of mental illness of Audrey Amiss (1933-2013) - Typist Artist Pirate King review by PV

I mostly enjoyed this film, with reservations. It is better than most BFI/lottery-funded films BUT not on the level of truly great road trip movies like WITHNAIL AND I or THELMA AND LOUISE. Very 2nd division. There have been loads of films recently about people going off on long walks, the mediocre schmaltzy UNLIKELY PILMGRAMAGE OF HAROLD FRY and the D-Day films two of them, one with Michael Caine.The best of all is FIRST AND LAST (1987) with Joss Ackland.

In particular, some male characters the two women meet on their roadtrip are cartoon character baddies - just absurdly so. Real misandry really, from a female writer/director there, I felt. Not necessary. To try and balance that obviously, there is a kind male policeman (ironic, as the real Audrey Amiss was often arrested for civil disturbance by police and locked up in mental hospitals; she even got deported from China for that when on many travels with her mother). Other very unrealistic and posed meetings with various groups - I doubt any of this really happened but Audrey Amiss did exist and was severely mentally ill.

Her archive is in the Wellcome collection - not as art, and scrapbooks of chocolate bar wrappers is what I did as a very small kid, so not art. But that collection has artefacts which link art, life, mental illness, so...

No idea how true to life this is. Audrey Amiss born 1933 died 2013, started scrapbooks late 70s - lived in Clapham near/with her mother, so not short of money really - they travelled the world together, exotic trips.

The performance of Monica Dolan was superb - and that carries this whole film really. I found her companion and former nurse annoying. I thought the mental illness and delusion was handled well. Always tricky to do, that.

So good in parts, annoying at times, great acting in main role, 3 stars. Almost 4. Great music too, oldies and newer songs too, one from Boy George plays over the credits (watch the end to see real art by Audrey and her photo).