Never Let Me Go (Drama)

This movie was dark and grey and gloomy just like the rainy day I was trying to escape from. Even so, not long after the lights turned down I found myself pleasantly drifting from one melancholic experience into another.

‘Never Let me Go’ is based on the book written by Kazuo Ishiguru that I remember reading and loving way back in high school. And so I was excited to hear that it had been made into a motion picture. I was also very curious as to how the unusual subject matter would translate onto the big screen. But the impressive screenplay written by Alex Garland (who’s name you might recognise as the guy who wrote the novel ‘The Beach’) helps make the transition from book to film seamlessly.

The story kicks off with a caption explaining that a medical breakthrough in 1952 has prolonged the human lifespan to 100 years. This sets the scene for a science fiction kind of movie but don’t let that turn you off (sorry trekkies!) - unike most sci-fi movies, rather than being set in the future, ‘Never Let Me Go’ lays out an alternative to the current 20th century. The initial setting is at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school with beautiful green grounds and lots of smiley, healthy kids running around. The film quickly becomes grim but also intriguing as we discover that these children are all orphans and are imprisoned at Hailsham as they are being raised to be human organ donors.

The main character performances are haunting – in a good way. Carey Mulligan is exceptional as Cathy H, the narrator of the film, as is Kiera Knightley in a supporting role as the outgoing and dominant Ruth. Interestingly, Carey and Kiera last appeared together in 2005 in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ when Kiera was a much bigger name but ‘Never Let Me Go’ shows Carey is more than capable of carrying the lead role. Tommy, who ends up being the pointy end of a love triangle between himself and the two girls, is movingly portrayed by Andrew Garfield.

What’s great about this movie is the way it makes you think about what it means to be human. I particularly loved the final reflection by Cathy regarding whether or not their lives were truly any different than the people they donate to e.g. “maybe none of us really understand what we’ve lived through”?!. It also touches on the notion of not having enough time to spend with those we love and how important it is to appreciate every moment and the fact that somehow this is easier to achieve when you know the end is near. This movie made me realise that since becoming a mum, I’ve had no choice but to be more present and appreciate all the little moments that make up now – which as it turns out is a beautiful gift Lilliana has given me. And here I was thinking our relationship was all one way at this point in time!

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed this movie – and Lilliana was clearly mesmerised (see inset!) – I appreciate ‘Never Let Me Go’ probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I think most people will find this hard to watch and might even describe it as ‘slow’. If you haven’t read the book, and if you have other films to choose from, I don’t think I’d be putting this one at the top of my list.

However, if you loved the book, or you’re looking for a film that provokes some interesting dinner conversation, or if you’re just trying to escape a rainy day........ take a risk and add this one to your list.

Depressing Movies Rock!

Maybe this public admission isn’t necessary for those who follow my blog closely but I’ve decided I can’t deny it any longer so I’m coming out of the closet – I LOVE depressing movies!

Who knows whether it’s because it makes me feel better about my own lot in life, or because it just makes me “feel” – whatever the reason I’m over justifying my film choices to friends or trying to work out why so I’m just going to going to run with it. In fact, I’m going to celebrate it.

For any of you fellow depressing film goers out there, I found an awesome list of depressing movies on IMDB, some of which I haven’t even seen so I’m paying homage to depressing movies by committing to work through this list while I’m on mat leave!

Here are a few of my faves from the list if you are in a movie watching mood and feel the need to reign in your own happiness:

#1 - Into the Wild
#4 - Gattaca
#7 - Million Dollar Baby
#13 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
#21 - American History X
#22 - Black Swan
#24 - American Beauty
#26 - Blue Valentine

I would also add Lantana, Revolutionary Road, Little Children......

Please write in as I would love to hear other suggestions....

127 Hours (Drama)

Based on a little informal survey I conducted since seeing ‘127 Hours’ I know that many people wouldn’t necessarily classify this film as “entertainment” but I found it gripping. Clearly, this movie isn’t going to be every one’s cup of tea but I’m a sucker for a true story. In particular, I love true stories that make me wonder whether the hero had any particularly special attributes, or would most people simply have done the same thing when faced with the same situation?

127 Hours’ is the film based on the book by Aaron Ralston, who is probably more widely known as ‘the dude that cut off his own arm’. The film stars James Franco as Aaron, the adventurer who found himself facing death after he became wedged under a boulder during a solo hike in Blue John Canyon, Utah.

Aside from ‘gripping’, I also found this film ‘to be gruesome’. Not an adjective I employ very often in my reviews but in this case, it’s a word I keep coming back to. 127 Hours runs for one hour and 35 minutes but for me - and I suspect for most people – my memories of the film are dominated by one gruesome 10 minute scene. Personally, I think this is a bit of shame seeing as the movie turned out to be so much more but the word seems to be out already, as evidenced by the fact that I tried to elicit a number of movie going buddies to see this film with me but to no avail! So off I went with the one person that couldn’t protest - little Lilliana.

Lilliana and I were just starting to settle in to the film (I was munching on popcorn, she was munching on something else ) and we were both enjoying the fast paced music and the amazing cinematography so I was more than a bit surprised when the hero of the story became trapped in the canyon not long after we sat down. In fact, I don’t think the credits had even rolled yet?!

My first thought was – geez this is going to be a long morning… I wondered how the hell they were going to fill up the next hour or so. But the remainder of the film was surprisingly engrossing thanks to James Franco’s brilliance. Not only was this a particularly tough gig for Franco given the subject matter, but in addition it was tough because this film is essentially a one man show. There are some brief diversions as Aaron reflects on friends, family, lovers and the last two people he met before his unfortunate predicament (played by Amber Tamlyn and Kate Mara), but for the vast majority of the film, it’s just Franco’s face you see up on screen. For this reason I found Franco’s performance even more astounding.

Rest assured that Franco is a million times better actor than he is an Awards show host!

I loved the way the film was shot in that it was often split between Franco and the footage of his daily video diary he recorded on his VC. I found this really added to the sense of time and the weight of it passing. Apparently Aaron really did keep a video diary of the ordeal and Franco and the Director are the only two people outside his family and close friends that have been allowed to view it. As I was watching the film, I frequently found myself wondering whether or not Aaron would approve? I have since read that when he was asked how authentic the film was, he said, "the movie is so factually accurate it is as close to a documentary as you can get and still be a drama”.

And of course, the question you find yourself pondering in the end is : if I were in that situation, would I be able to cut my own arm off? What lengths would I go to to survive? And whilst I admit that this idea isn’t necessarily new – it does have a kind of ‘Touching the Void’ or ‘Into the Wild’ kind of feel - the way the story is told, and the story itself, is unique. Some might say that 127 Hours’ made them conclude that life is too short to spend in a dark cinema watching some dude cut his own arm off. To which I will only admit that the film could’ve been 10 or 15 minutes shorter, but otherwise, I felt like I was in the canyon with Aaron and I couldn’t have been more engaged…