Watch Mr. Art Critic

Mr. Art Critic is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Richard Brauer and starring Bronson Pinchot, Toni Trucks, and John Lepard. The movie tells the story of M.J. Clayton (Pinchot), an art critic who finds himself in the middle of a controversy after writing a scathing review of a famous artist's latest exhibition. The movie opens with M.J. Clayton attending an exhibition of the work of the famous contemporary artist Katya Livingston (Trucks). Clayton is known for his harsh critiques, and he is not impressed with Livingston's work. In his review, he calls her art "pretentious" and "derivative." The review doesn't sit well with Livingston's gallery owner, Theophilis Philo (Lepard), who is also Clayton's long-time rival.

Theophilis Philo sees an opportunity to get back at Clayton and convinces his friend, the wealthy collector Arthur Dimsdale (Jon Stafford), to hire Clayton to appraise his vast collection of art. Philo knows that Clayton will not be able to resist the temptation of the money and prestige that comes with the job, and he hopes that Clayton's ego will lead him down the path of his downfall.

Clayton arrives at Dimsdale's estate, where he meets the artist's daughter, Rachel (Nikki Deloach), who is also an artist. Rachel is impressed with Clayton's reputation and asks him to critique her work. Clayton is hesitant at first but eventually agrees. He is surprised to find that he actually likes Rachel's art and even more surprised to find himself attracted to her.

As Clayton works his way through Dimsdale's collection, he becomes increasingly enamored with Rachel and begins to question his own opinions on art. He also starts to realize that Theophilis Philo may have ulterior motives for hiring him.

Meanwhile, Livingston launches a public campaign against Clayton, calling him a "hack" and a "fraud." She uses her influence to turn the art world against him, and his reputation begins to crumble. Clayton realizes that he needs to redeem himself and decides to seek out the artist who inspired Livingston's work.

Clayton travels to Italy to meet with the artist, who is living a reclusive life in a small village. The artist, who is played by Nino Aldi, is initially hesitant to speak to Clayton. But Clayton's passion for art and his genuine desire to understand the artist's work finally win him over. The artist shows Clayton a painting that he has been working on for years, and Clayton is moved by its beauty and complexity.

With renewed confidence, Clayton returns to the United States and confronts Livingston, calling her out for her lack of originality and accusing her of copying the work of the Italian artist. The two engage in a heated argument, which ultimately leads to Livingston revealing that she has been in love with Clayton all along.

The movie ends with Clayton reconciling with Rachel and with his own artistic instincts. He writes a new review of Livingston's work, calling it "brilliant" and "provocative." Theophilis Philo is shown in the final scene, drinking alone in his office, defeated by Clayton's redemption.

Overall, Mr. Art Critic is a charming and entertaining movie that explores the often-overlooked emotional side of art criticism. Pinchot gives a standout performance as Clayton, bringing depth and nuance to what could have been a one-dimensional character. The supporting cast is also strong, particularly Trucks as the conflicted artist and Lepard as the conniving gallery owner. The film's message about the importance of honesty and passion in art is both timely and timeless.

Mr. Art Critic is a 2008 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.