If you are one of those people that complains that "all movies are these days is people running in front of green screens with CGI characters blowing things up", then do I have a movie for you. 45 YEARS is a character drama about a couple who's marriage is falling apart as they approach their 45th Wedding Anniversary.
Directed by Andrew Haigh, 45 Years tells the story of Kate (Charlotte Rampling) and Geoff (Tom Courtenay). A letter from Geoff's past threatens to tear apart the thin threads of their marriage. It is how the characters react to this letter - and it's ramifications - that we experience over the course of the film.
This is a "drawing room drama" with, basically, 2 characters. It could easily be a stage play. While this screams to most of you "rental, watch at home". Interestingly enough, I would recommend you view this in a theater for a few reasons.
1)., This is a slow film with emotions layered upon themselves, unfolding over the hour and a half. In order to fully appreciate this, you should immerse yourself in this film, without distractions of the home (phone, pets, etc).
2). Charlotte Rampling's performance. She is rightfully nominated for her first Academy Award for her performance, but it is a quiet performance. We see most of this film through her character. Director Haigh lingers on her face for her reaction when the action of the scene moves off of her. It is in these reaction shots that we see what is truly going on with Kate. Because these are reaction shots, they are, by design, silent. We can tell her reaction by the change in her expression and Rampling's performance is subtle, but strong - so subtle that I am afraid that some of her performance will be lost on a smaller screen.
Because Rampling's performance is mostly reactions, it is important to this movie to have a strong performance by the actor portraying Geoff and we get one in Tom Courtenay. His Geoff is wrecked by the letter and over 50 years of buried emotions come out. Courtenay's performance is the flashier of the two but is still surrounded in nuance and subtlety - a strong counterbalance to Rampling's performance.
If you're looking for "action packed" and "feel good hit", then check somewhere else. If you're looking for a well acted drama, then 45 Years is for you.
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (of Marquis)
Directed by Andrew Haigh, 45 Years tells the story of Kate (Charlotte Rampling) and Geoff (Tom Courtenay). A letter from Geoff's past threatens to tear apart the thin threads of their marriage. It is how the characters react to this letter - and it's ramifications - that we experience over the course of the film.
This is a "drawing room drama" with, basically, 2 characters. It could easily be a stage play. While this screams to most of you "rental, watch at home". Interestingly enough, I would recommend you view this in a theater for a few reasons.
1)., This is a slow film with emotions layered upon themselves, unfolding over the hour and a half. In order to fully appreciate this, you should immerse yourself in this film, without distractions of the home (phone, pets, etc).
2). Charlotte Rampling's performance. She is rightfully nominated for her first Academy Award for her performance, but it is a quiet performance. We see most of this film through her character. Director Haigh lingers on her face for her reaction when the action of the scene moves off of her. It is in these reaction shots that we see what is truly going on with Kate. Because these are reaction shots, they are, by design, silent. We can tell her reaction by the change in her expression and Rampling's performance is subtle, but strong - so subtle that I am afraid that some of her performance will be lost on a smaller screen.
Because Rampling's performance is mostly reactions, it is important to this movie to have a strong performance by the actor portraying Geoff and we get one in Tom Courtenay. His Geoff is wrecked by the letter and over 50 years of buried emotions come out. Courtenay's performance is the flashier of the two but is still surrounded in nuance and subtlety - a strong counterbalance to Rampling's performance.
If you're looking for "action packed" and "feel good hit", then check somewhere else. If you're looking for a well acted drama, then 45 Years is for you.
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (of Marquis)