Cynthia Erivo stuns in a backless yellow gown at London Film Festival premiere of Prima Facie as movie is branded a ‘finger-wagging lecture’ in lukewarm reviews

Cynthia Erivo was the belle of the ball as she arrived at the London Film Festival premiere of her new movie Prima Facie on Tuesday night.

The Wicked star, 39, looked incredible in a custom Prada gown as she walked the red carpet at Royal Festival Hall.

The slinky canary yellow yellow dress had a backless design, showing off Cynthia’s extensive tattoos. 

The actress kept her jewellery minimal, accessorising with drop earrings and diamond bracelets as she posed at the glittering premiere.

Whilst it was a glam night for the stage and screen star, Prima Facie has been met with lukewarm reviews.

The film is based on the one-woman play of the same name from Australian playwright Suzie Miller.

Miller has penned the screeplay whilst the film has been directed by BAFTA-winner Susanna White, who has helmed TV hits including the BBC adaptations of Jane Eyre and Bleak House. 

The play and film centre around Cynthia’s barrister character Tessa, who defends men accused of sexual assault before she is sexually assaulted by a colleague. 

Jodie Comer took on the gruelling role in the play back in 2022, marking her West End debut. She reprised the role for the Broadway production a year later, winning a Tony and Laurence Olivier Award.

Whilst the play won rave reviews and accolades, critics have called the screen transfer disappointing. 

Tim Robey for The Telegraph awarded the film two stars, writing that ‘Cynthia Erivo’s Prima Facie turns a punchy play into a finger-wagging lecture.’

‘Besides the televisual look and Susanna White’s directing approach, which is fluffed and obvious… the biggest culprit, though, is Miller, whose screenplay converts Tessa into a mere mouthpiece,’ he continued. 

Robert Daniels Screen Daily agreed, calling the film ‘an underwhelmingly flat message picture, whose efforts to raise awareness about sexual assault against women is stymied by on-the-nose creative choices and writerly missteps.’

The Hollywood Reporter‘s Caryn James labelled the film a ‘misfire’ and ‘a huge disappointment’.

‘As a message, Prima Facie is still a howl of rage and a plea for change. But as a film it is a near-total muddle, from the clunky recurring voiceover to the cringey, obvious visuals and a preachy ending, with only some stunning supporting performances and a brief, powerful middle section to redeem it.’

Far Out critic Liam Gaughan writes that ‘Prima Facie is a contrived attempt to stir up discussion that lacks the conviction to stand on its own two feet to provoke any ambiguity, a legal drama of exasperating bluntness with a distractingly hammy performance from Cynthia Erivo.’

Collider‘s Therese Lacson praised Cynthia’s performance though, writing that ‘Erivo slips into Tessa’s role with ease, both in the film’s more light-hearted first half and in the heavier beats of its conclusion after her assault.’

‘While White’s film is not exactly groundbreaking, her thoughtful approach and execution still make it well worth the watch and the praise. 

Deadline Pete Hammond  singled out Miller and White’s decision to ‘take it from the spare stage and the inner thoughts voiced by Comer’s English barrister and try to keep the same idea through the extensive use of voice-over thoughts of Cynthia Erivo’s character Tessa.’

‘It’s a gamble that perhaps doesn’t reproduce the power of the stage production.’

The Guardian‘s Richard Lawson’s two-star review meanwhile claimed the ‘pointless’ film adaptation had ‘flattened’ the script of the play.’

Speaking at the London premiere on Tuesday, Cynthia said ‘I just knew immediately that I wanted to do this because I knew how important it was.

‘I also I had this feeling that it was more important than I was even aware of, and I wanted to be part of it.’ 

Prima Facie will be released in U.K. cinemas in November 

Via: Daily Mail