Film Review: ANOTHER YEAR (2010)

Writer/Director: Mike Leigh
Running time: 129 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Drama/Comedy
UK Release date: 5^th November 2010

Watched on Terrestrial PVR Saturday 10^th August 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

You always know what you’re going to get with a Mike Leigh film: they’re always very human stories; well produced and with excellent performances. This is no exception and I’m very happy about that. I know it was critically acclaimed on release and was even nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA (didn’t win either though). I have to admit I really enjoyed this drama (with comic elements); I hate it when the call it a comedy/drama when it’s clearly the other way around!! – [Okay, rant over]. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

The film concentrates on a year in the lives of middle-aged couple Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen). He is a commercial geologist and she is a therapist at a medical practice. They have a 30 year old son, Joe (Oliver Maltman), who visits occasionally. We are taken through their daily lives and that of the various friends and family that come to their house. One friend in particular takes centre stage, Mary (Lesley Manville). She works with Gerri and come across as quite bubbly and happy-go-lucky but underneath she’s desperately lonely. This results in some quite comic moments but also some very touching and quite sad ones. I won’t go into specifics here, but she does put on quite a show.

Really well made with some tremendous performances; I loved the down-to-earth tone of the piece. Mike Leigh does make some great dramas and he really gets great performances from his actors. In this one I loved both Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, but the star of the show was definitely Lesley Manville. She had to go through the whole gamut of emotions and did it quite brilliantly (IMO). It’s not a film that will be to everyone’s taste; the explosion count is zero; car chases get a similar score and as for deaths, well, there is one, but we only find out about that one when they have to go to the funeral. But I digress; I found it a really engaging film with some real characters that are both believable and well rounded. It’s nice to see British people portrayed as they are for a change, instead of some stereotypical ‘vision’ of what everyone thinks they are. On the down side, I did find it went on just a tad too long at the end, but I’m not going to hold that against it. It’s well worth a look if you get the chance.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 7.3/10 (based on 17,356 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431181/

MetaScore: 80/100: (Based on 35 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 93/100 (based on 160 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 72/100 (based on 19,867 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/another_year_2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site (UK): http://www.anotheryear-movie.com/
Official Site (US): http://www.sonyclassics.com/anotheryear/
Trailer:

Film Review: CLONE (2010) [a.k.a. WOMB]

Writer/Director: Benedek Fliegauf
Running time: 108 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Romance/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 4^th May 2012 (Limited)

Watched on Sky+ Monday 19^th November 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I didn’t know too much about but one that had an interesting premise. I do remember it being reviewed on TV quite a long time ago, but it can’t have registered that well because I can’t remember whether they said it was any good or not. So I went into this one with a very open mind and I’m quite glad I did because it’s one of those thought-provoking films that can be spoiled by too many preconceptions.

The pacing is very slow, almost hypnotically so at times, but it is beautifully shot, making great use of the panoramic beach locations. So what’s it all about? Well we meet Tommy and Rebecca when they are quite young; they strike up a friendship which is sealed with a kiss before Rebecca has to leave to live in Tokyo. Fast-forward a number of years and Rebecca (Eva Green – from Casino Royalle) is back from Japan and looking for Tommy (Matt Smith – the current Doctor Who). They more or less take up from where they left off and things seem to be progressing well when Tommy is suddenly killed in a road accident. Rebecca is understandably distraught and decides, with the permission of Tommy’s parents, Judith (Lesley Manville) and Ralph (Peter Wight), to have a clone of him made which she will carry in her womb… But there will be repercussions, some of which are quite surprising.

I know this is not a film that everyone will like; the slow pacing and the fact it’s about relationships will put many off. But if you’re prepared to be patient it does throw up some very interesting questions. I loved the way it was shot and the haunting score (by Max Richter) fitted the piece perfectly. I think the visuals would have had a little more impact on the big screen, but I still found it quite an impressive visual feast. On a dramatic level I did find it was a little too serious and a little levity here and there would have helped. Other than that I found it perfectly acceptable, although I freely admit it may not be to everyone’s taste.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 6.8/10

IMDb Score: 6.2/10 (based on 3,566 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1216520/

MetaScore: 48/100: (Based on 8 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 35/100 (based on 20 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 48/100 ‘Want to See’ (based on 1,885 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/womb/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Rebecca: Its over. I will always speak to you, and I don't mind if you don't say anything. Just because you went away, it doesn't mean you're not here anymore. Perhaps all I ever needed was this gift, the one you gave to me at the end.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer: