We saw it at the wonderful Palace Cinema in Malton, North
Yorkshire, one of those fantastic old cinemas that somehow survived the ravages
of World War 2 and the 1960s/70s bingo boom.
It’s really a film about father/son relationships, with Bill
Nighy fantastic as ever alongside Domhnall Gleeson (probably best-known for playing
Bill Weasley in Harry Potter films, though I saw him last in Anna Karenina –
which I hadn’t much liked...).
In the opening scenes I wasn’t sure I was going to relate to
much of this: as in most of Curtis’s films, this is a fairly affluent
middle-class English family, not as posh as most Hugh Grant characters, but
just a bit comfortable, the English equivalent of those glamorous families that
feature in most US TV movies.
But within a few minutes I was won over. Partly it’s Nighy’s
acting and just his presence on the screen; partly the engaging storyline. I
don’t want to do a plot-spoiler here, but its premise is that you can time
travel back through your own life and have another go at doing things you
thought didn’t quite work the first time.
Curtis clearly likes a good wedding and funeral, hence his
earlier classic. And in About Time,
his best moments also probably come at Tim’s wedding and the funeral of his Dad
(a particularly moving scene, suggesting Curtis may well have been through that
himself).
And the overall message of this feel-good film: Enjoy it
while you can. Given the short release time of most film these days, I’d say
the say about this film: Go and see it while you can.
****
Bea says: We dashed into the cinema to see this after running late and bolting down a plateful of noodles at the local Thai restaurant before the screening. Running in, I wondered if it would be worth it or if we should have just lingered over dinner and skipped the movie. Well, contrary to my expectations, it was so worth it.
Now, I like Richard Curtis's films. Like everyone else, I loved 4 Weddings and I've kept up with his output and seen, and enjoyed, what followed, although I don't think anything has been quite as standout as the original and first. I expected this to be enjoyable, but not particularly earth-shattering or memorable.
But actually, it either caught me in a nostalgic, reflective mood, or it is particularly well drafted and written. I found myself close to (pleasant but rather sad) tears of nostalgia during the first part of the film, as I remembered my own young days in London - restaurants, rain, parties, rain, being walked home by someone you might just fancy, more rain...
And I was thoughtfully introspective during the second part, as the young couple we follow through the story have children and cope with life, and death, and family. There is a wedding, a funeral, at least one Christmas, and a few births, and then the charming quirk of the film: some time travel, all accompanied by a well-chosen soundtrack and great performances by all, but particularly the wonderful Bill Nighy.
We had a long drive home from the Palace Cinema in Malton which was quietly and mistily atmospheric after the show, and the mist rolled in and out as we drove over the North York Moors , talking about the film and our lives before we met.
This morning I rang my Dad and we talked, and he and Mum shared a joke and a laugh while we talked. It's good to have family. Even though, I mused last night, no one in my close circle of friends has really had the kind of longevity the couple in the film had - for those who had it, the whole babies/perfect life thing didn't happen, and for those for whom it did, the relationships didn't necessarily last But - families we all still are, nevertheless.
See this if you would like a poignant reminder of years gone by, or need to be reminded that life is good, sometimes.
***.5
Now, I like Richard Curtis's films. Like everyone else, I loved 4 Weddings and I've kept up with his output and seen, and enjoyed, what followed, although I don't think anything has been quite as standout as the original and first. I expected this to be enjoyable, but not particularly earth-shattering or memorable.
But actually, it either caught me in a nostalgic, reflective mood, or it is particularly well drafted and written. I found myself close to (pleasant but rather sad) tears of nostalgia during the first part of the film, as I remembered my own young days in London - restaurants, rain, parties, rain, being walked home by someone you might just fancy, more rain...
And I was thoughtfully introspective during the second part, as the young couple we follow through the story have children and cope with life, and death, and family. There is a wedding, a funeral, at least one Christmas, and a few births, and then the charming quirk of the film: some time travel, all accompanied by a well-chosen soundtrack and great performances by all, but particularly the wonderful Bill Nighy.
We had a long drive home from the Palace Cinema in Malton which was quietly and mistily atmospheric after the show, and the mist rolled in and out as we drove over the North York Moors , talking about the film and our lives before we met.
This morning I rang my Dad and we talked, and he and Mum shared a joke and a laugh while we talked. It's good to have family. Even though, I mused last night, no one in my close circle of friends has really had the kind of longevity the couple in the film had - for those who had it, the whole babies/perfect life thing didn't happen, and for those for whom it did, the relationships didn't necessarily last But - families we all still are, nevertheless.
See this if you would like a poignant reminder of years gone by, or need to be reminded that life is good, sometimes.
***.5
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