One of the films I wanted to see before I drew 2010 to a proper close was Another Year, and see it I did. Did I love it? Since it's one of the absolute best movies of 2010, the answer is a sweet and swift "YES!"
The film spans over the course of one year in the life of a happy, and healthy elderly couple, Tom and Gerri. The two of them have a son named Joe, and over the time frame of the film, try to spread their own cheer to their less than cheery friends, such as the distraught Ken, Tom's under spoken and passive brother Ronnie, and their alcoholic, and also quite conflicted friend Mary.
First praise goes to the cast, featuring a huge group of characters, and none of them feel wasted. Each and every one of the film's actors and actresses give fleshed out, and fully dimensional performances. Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, who are the closest things to leading in this film, give a convincing portrayal of gleeful romance. Other cast members who do a convincing job include David Bradley, Peter Wight, and the miracle that is Lesley Manville, who steals every scene she's in, gripping us with her enigmatic exterior, until delivering a punch to the gut in the film's final 20 minutes that broke yours truly down to a teary mess.
But the real star of Another Year is Mike Leigh. He not only extracts excellent performances from his cast as a director, but his screenplay is brilliant. It still features his same signature brand of humor, but it's toned down this time around, giving the themes of love, life, and what it means to live and love an intimate sense of exploration, even if we the audience are afraid of the outcome. One of the year's VERY best screenplays as far as I'm concerned.
However, as enthusiastic as I am, I wouldn't recommend the movie to EVERYONE, because the simple fact is: the movie is depressing. Said themes mentioned earlier grow more saddening and grim over time, moments of genuine joy are few and far between, and the "Winter" segment of the film is the most emotionally devastating piece of cinema I've seen in years.
Still, if you do decide to see Another Year, which I give **** out of **** by the way, I think you'll find a lot to admire about it.
The film spans over the course of one year in the life of a happy, and healthy elderly couple, Tom and Gerri. The two of them have a son named Joe, and over the time frame of the film, try to spread their own cheer to their less than cheery friends, such as the distraught Ken, Tom's under spoken and passive brother Ronnie, and their alcoholic, and also quite conflicted friend Mary.
First praise goes to the cast, featuring a huge group of characters, and none of them feel wasted. Each and every one of the film's actors and actresses give fleshed out, and fully dimensional performances. Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, who are the closest things to leading in this film, give a convincing portrayal of gleeful romance. Other cast members who do a convincing job include David Bradley, Peter Wight, and the miracle that is Lesley Manville, who steals every scene she's in, gripping us with her enigmatic exterior, until delivering a punch to the gut in the film's final 20 minutes that broke yours truly down to a teary mess.
But the real star of Another Year is Mike Leigh. He not only extracts excellent performances from his cast as a director, but his screenplay is brilliant. It still features his same signature brand of humor, but it's toned down this time around, giving the themes of love, life, and what it means to live and love an intimate sense of exploration, even if we the audience are afraid of the outcome. One of the year's VERY best screenplays as far as I'm concerned.
However, as enthusiastic as I am, I wouldn't recommend the movie to EVERYONE, because the simple fact is: the movie is depressing. Said themes mentioned earlier grow more saddening and grim over time, moments of genuine joy are few and far between, and the "Winter" segment of the film is the most emotionally devastating piece of cinema I've seen in years.
Still, if you do decide to see Another Year, which I give **** out of **** by the way, I think you'll find a lot to admire about it.