UNAPOLOGETIC MOVIE REVIEWS

From an opinionate hobo

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Title: Never Let Me Go Year of Release: 2010 Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller Synopsis: As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. Director: Mark Romanek Writer (Novel): Kazuo Ishiguro Writer (Screenplay): Alex Garland Cast: Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley Hobo Review: Never Let Me Go is not unlike a car crash. It’s messy in places (a shot that perhaps lingers for a moment too long, causing it to become noticeable and awkward for example) but captivating in its trauma. But it is that same haphazard-at-times mess that really makes the film work. Right from the get-go, you’re filled with an awful sense of foreboding. This could be because of the opening scene, and the wonderment of how the characters will get to that place. At the heart of the film is a romance, though in my opinion, that is not the aspect that drives the plot forward. The true tragedy is in the very roots, the basic premise of the film, the purpose of the children’s lives. Some of the latter scenes are almost physically stifling as we witness the severe lack of social and sexual awareness present in the adults who have left the school, and the overall tone leaves you extremely uncomfortable. In the good way. I feel like it could have been a much better movie if it had been – and excuse my morbidity – a little more angsty and developed. It’s one of those films where the premise is much more interesting that than film itself, and you know that if a few things had been done slightly differently, the potential is there for it to have been amazing. We are shown the development of three friends throughout three decades, and the pacing is often rushed – though I guess that is to be expected for a film of its length. It isn’t hard to follow, even when it throws out terms such as “original”, “donations” and “completion” without elaborating on their meanings until later on. The sadness fully creeps up on you in the closing 20 minutes, and you realize that you were apparently more connected to these characters than you originally thought. It is then that you reflect back on their extremely limited lives, and mourn the unexplored potential of a wasted existence. Keira Knightley is almost unrecognizable as Ruth, and I can honestly say that Never Let Me Go is the first time she hasn’t annoyed me and I’ve been able to appreciate her acting ability. I’m still wondering if Andrew Garfield has the capability of playing anything other than an extremely awkward young man, considering it is that that he has played in everything I’ve seen him in. Rating: 6/10

Title: Never Let Me Go

Year of Release: 2010

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Synopsis: As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.

Director: Mark Romanek Writer (Novel): Kazuo Ishiguro Writer (Screenplay): Alex Garland

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley

Hobo Review:

Never Let Me Go is not unlike a car crash. It’s messy in places (a shot that perhaps lingers for a moment too long, causing it to become noticeable and awkward for example) but captivating in its trauma. But it is that same haphazard-at-times mess that really makes the film work. Right from the get-go, you’re filled with an awful sense of foreboding. This could be because of the opening scene, and the wonderment of how the characters will get to that place.

At the heart of the film is a romance, though in my opinion, that is not the aspect that drives the plot forward. The true tragedy is in the very roots, the basic premise of the film, the purpose of the children’s lives. Some of the latter scenes are almost physically stifling as we witness the severe lack of social and sexual awareness present in the adults who have left the school, and the overall tone leaves you extremely uncomfortable. In the good way.

I feel like it could have been a much better movie if it had been – and excuse my morbidity – a little more angsty and developed. It’s one of those films where the premise is much more interesting that than film itself, and you know that if a few things had been done slightly differently, the potential is there for it to have been amazing.

We are shown the development of three friends throughout three decades, and the pacing is often rushed – though I guess that is to be expected for a film of its length. It isn’t hard to follow, even when it throws out terms such as “original”, “donations” and “completion” without elaborating on their meanings until later on.

The sadness fully creeps up on you in the closing 20 minutes, and you realize that you were apparently more connected to these characters than you originally thought. It is then that you reflect back on their extremely limited lives, and mourn the unexplored potential of a wasted existence.

Keira Knightley is almost unrecognizable as Ruth, and I can honestly say that Never Let Me Go is the first time she hasn’t annoyed me and I’ve been able to appreciate her acting ability. I’m still wondering if Andrew Garfield has the capability of playing anything other than an extremely awkward young man, considering it is that that he has played in everything I’ve seen him in.

Rating: 6/10

Filed under Actor: Andrew Garfield Actress: Carey Mulligan Film: Never Let Me Go Movie Review Actress: Keira Knightley

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