I don’t know why this is up for an Oscar? The film is long yet is bitty, few of the characters are explored. Cumberbatch plays it well, as you would expect. However, the film has little backstory, is slow, it is gothic, yes also humourless. The relationship between characters is poorly defined. Dunstable goes from sober to an alcoholic with no other reason than she has a poor relationship with Cumberbatch, but she never tries to make it better. If it was last ditch I could buy it. I was glad when it was over.