How far would you go to win every bet? Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Henry Sugar in “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” The short film, based on a Roald Dahl story, sees a rich man seek his own rewards over doing the right thing; in the process, he seeks out a guru who may give him a gambling advantage. What follows is a story that shows what we wish for and what we get are two very different things. Cumberbatch takes on the starring role after leading 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and 2021’s “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain,” the latter being a memorable performance in a film that is both endearing and heartbreaking.
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Director Wes Anderson assembles a fantastic cast around his leading man — including Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade. Fiennes portrays Dahl, providing distinctly crafted narration throughout the short film; it’s a role that’s drawn praise in addition to acclaim for Cumberabtch’s approach. The Playlist’s Rafaela Sales Ross noted Fiennes’ performance as a highlight during her recent review. “Fiennes is a perfect Dahl with his distinctive British drawl and is in great company alongside the always charming but perhaps never quite so funnily so Patel,” she wrote.
The film’s official synopsis:
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“A beloved Roald Dahl story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.”
Wes Anderson brings one of Roald Dahl’s classic stories to life in “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” And moreover, it’s just the beginning. As he alluded to in Venice where ‘Henry Sugar’ premiered, he’s actually made four shorts out of four Dahl stories. Netflix is making them into a four-day event that starts on September 27 through 30, one new short each day, including “The Swan,” “The Ratcatcher,” and “Poison.” The four shorts add up to 90 minutes, and it’s a bit curious that they’re not being wrapped up into one big theatrical omnibus, but then again, Anderson’s “Asteroid City” was just in theaters this summer.
“I like the idea, right off the bat, of having a little company play the whole film,” Anderson told Tudum recently. “They took it and did it. You hand it to them, and then you step back and watch.”
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Wednesday, Sept. 27
Logline: A beloved Roald Dahl short story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.
Cast: Ralph Fiennes (Roald Dahl, Policeman), Benedict Cumberbatch (Henry Sugar, Max Engelman), Dev Patel (Dr. Chatterjee, John Winston), Ben Kingsley (Imdad Khan, Croupier), Richard Ayoade (Dr. Marshall, Yogi)
Runtime: 39 minutes
This Netflix/Wes Anderson event starting with “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” begins on September 27. Watch the first trailer for “Henry Sugar’ below.