5 Flights Up

It is so refreshing to watch a film with a contemporary story that focuses on older people and their choices and strengths instead of seeing them act foolish or pathetic. Based on Jill Ciment's book as adapted for the screen by Charlie Peters and directed with straightforward good taste by Richard Loncraine, this quiet little film is a wonderful platform for tow of our most respected actors – 69 year old Diane Keaton and 78 year old Morgan Freeman – who create an irresistible chemistry.

Briefly, long-time happily married couple Ruth and artist Alex Carver (Keaton and Freeman) who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away, having decided to cash in on their sought-after Brooklyn apartment. The story opens with one of the reasons they feel the need to move after 40 years in the '5 flights up' apartment with no elevator: their little dog Dorothy is having difficulty maneuvering the stairs and ends up with a slipped vertebral disc that requires a Vet's expertise and surgery. They engage Ruth's niece, real estate agent Lily (Cynthia Nixon, who is wonderfully, gushingly obnoxious) and the visits to the apartment begin – all manner of rather despicable lookie-loos traipse through and a decision must be made. Ruth and Alex find an apartment in Manhattan that is one the 9th floor and has an elevator, but issues arise that make them alter their initial decision.

Beautifully understated is the fact that Ruth and Alex are childless, entered an interracial marriage when it was not fashionable to do so, and have grown old together making every day count. They are wonderful and the film does them justice. It is such a pleasure to see two seasoned and gifted actors make such an impressive statement.

Recommended for all those who think happiness is dependent on social media based.

Not sure how you can consider it as a pointless plot...instead it reflects life and its complexity in the reality of little (and no so little) daily things. I loved it...

If I were to say that 5 Flights Up was a loosely structured film involving an aging couple, the real estate market, hectic home bidding, terrorism, a dog with lethal problems, interracial marriage, and painting, you'd probably be endlessly confused. However, I wouldn't be misleading you nor would I be shortchanging the film's story. For a film with an A-list cast and from a fairly large studio, it's strange for something like this to be so largely plot less and breezy, yet so thematically impacting. If nothing else, the film furthers my belief that you ultimately don't need a concrete plot or "point-A-to-point-B" style events to make an impacting film; you need strong characters or strong dialog, but if you have two, you're golden.

The film focuses on Ruth and Alex Carver (Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman), an older couple looking to sell their old-fashioned Brooklyn apartment through their real estate agent Lilly (Cynthia Nixon). Due to the apartment's location and one-of-a-kind structure, the spacious home could be worth as much as $1 million and, under current circumstances, both Ruth and Alex want to get as much money possible. Though it's evident that the couple have talked selling their apartment to death, one can tell that they're quietly heartbroken to be leaving it behind, especially Alex, who has made one of the rooms his workstation for his many paintings.

Both Ruth and Alex find themselves immersed in the world of real estate buying and selling upon holding an open house and exploring other apartments in the city. They find themselves bombarded with potential buyers they are either not personally fond of or questioning whether or not they will take care of the home and love it as much as they did. While this search goes on, Ruth and Alex's dog winds up falling prey to a ruptured disc in her back, requiring expensive surgery in addition to the repeated coverage of a potential terrorist attack perpetrated by an assumed Muslim extremist when a large oil tanker is left on the Williamsburg Bridge.

Just by this description, one gets a feel of the looseness in 5 Flights Up. It would appear that writer Charles Peters attempted to make a film that was invested in real-life situations, particularly the kind that come about when trying to sell a home or an apartment in the wake of the biggest housing crisis in American history. Few films I can recall have painted the constant struggle and fuss over selling and buying a home in such a powerfully telling way, right down to the incessant "bidding wars" between interested clients and the dictation of a real estate agent. Such an experience is an endless cycle of monotony, false leads, and confusion and director Richard Loncraine portrays it as if the characters are operating on a field of landmines.

There's also examination of the generation gap here in a boldly subtle way. Consider Freeman trying to prove himself and his abilities to much younger, disinterested art buyers, or even the multitude of spoiled and unruly young guests that come through his home. Ruth and Alex are on their way out in numerous respects in this film, but as the film gets going, we see that they're soon to be out of their home, their element, and most importantly, time to prove themselves in a world that's rapidly changing and quickly leaving people like them behind.

Much has been made about the terrorist subplot which, in many scenes, does come out of left field and provides for a jarring tonal shift. However, if one looks at it like in the same way an announcement of any kind by Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellin sends financial markets into a tizzy, one can see its relevance, even if it does add a touch of awkwardness to the film's story.

5 Flights Up may not have the narrative structure of its contemporaries, but it damn sure understands the current state of baby boomers and sentimentality better than a lot of them. It's a film of moments and strong lead performances, with Keaton and Freeman proving through each collective and low-key scene why their performances are always highly praised. While this is a film along the lines of the feel-good flick you're likely predicting, just know if you're going to have your emotions tickled by a movie, you might as well have it done by a film that's respectful of its characters and somewhat insightful.

Starring: Diane Keaton, Morgan Freeman, and Cynthia Nixon. Directed by: Richard Loncraine.

"5 Flights up" is an easy-going film about an old married couple (Alex and Ruth) who came to the conclusion that after living in that part of Brooklyn for about 40 years, where they bought a cozy apartment, the time came to leave all this behind and find another place to live. For all sorts of reasons. First, the neighborhood is no longer as it was before and is engulfed by a younger generation. And also the lack of a lift became a daily obstacle for the house owner and their old dog. Eventually, they decide to sell their apartment and they leave this in the hands of a niece who knows the tricks in this business. And before they realize it, their apartment is occupied by potential buyers who can be divided into several categories: candidates who are determined to seize this unique opportunity with both hands, the yuppies who want to redesign the entire floor, the real estate tourists who just come their to watch television and eat some snacks and even someone who's always trying out the bed. Alex doesn't feel at home anymore, despite it's still his own apartment and it's not even sold yet.

For the two protagonists alone, I necessarily wanted to see this movie. Not that I'm a big fan of Diana Keaton, who usually plays a corny, traditional mother in some romantic comedy where someone is getting married once again (a film such as "The Big Wedding"). Although I could appreciate her performance in "The Family Stone", even though she played again the mother hen. But "5 Flights up" was perfect for her. A serene and formal older woman who even in the most hectic and stressful situations, remains calm. She's hardened by the past when she made the decision to marry an Afro-American. Compared to that every setback is just peanuts.

I was particularly curious about how Morgan Freeman would play his part. After a succession of meaningless roles in both brilliant films as soon-to-be-forgotten films, like "Olympus Has Fallen", "Oblivion", "Now you see me", "Last Vegas", "Transcendence", "Lucy" and "Last Knights", it was once again time for this brilliant actor to being featured in an entire movie. And he lived up to my expectations. Flawlessly he acquitted himself of his task : the spouse who's still in love with his wife after all these years, the cheerful artist who rather withdraws into his studio while strangers are wandering through his flat, the worried owner of a pet that needs medical assistance (no matter what it costs) and the resolute decision maker who ultimately decides about what's rightfully his. Formidable performance.

Only the script is kind of dull to keep things interesting. Admittedly, the situations arising from the sale are frequently humorous and engaging. But a whole film just about selling an apartment with on the one hand the financial advantage and on the other hand a pile of memories that needs to be left behind, is still only limited material to work with. The message that this film conveys is that money can't replace nostalgic musings and feelings. A sunrise is nowhere the same and you'll have to forget certain habits and situations from the past. It's beautifully imaged with flashbacks that don't seem to be disturbing, with a touch of melancholy and sadness on top. A smile and a tear. But just as in real life, selling a house isn't particularly exciting and entertaining. That was for me the only downside of it all. But Freeman starring back again like this after a long time, made it bearable.

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"I don't like our lives being in the hands of someone else." Alex (Freeman) and Ruth (Keaton) are getting ready to sell their apartment and begin a new chapter in their life. When they begin to show the space old feelings begin to come back. Now, between the visitors and looking for a new place, they start to remember the times they had together. First of all I have to say this movie was OK, but being 36, if I was about 30 years older I think I would have liked it more. The story is OK but this is a movie that resonates much more with an older crowd do due the subject matter. The acting is great and it was good but many of the subtleties were lost on me since I have never been through something like this. Overall, worth seeing but the older you are the more you will enjoy this. I give it a B-.