Director: Thea Sharrock.
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Matthew Lewis, Janet McTear, Charles Dance, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Peacocke.
I'm guilty, again, of not reading the book of which this film is based on, written by Jojo Moyes; so I can't compare or discuss irregularities or about the comparison of the adaptation, but I can say Jojo did write the screenplay so we can be rest assured it's how the source author should have wanted it on the big screen.
There's not much about Director Thea Sharrock apart from a couple of TV series and this being her first main feature. She does a great job, really capturing the moment and atmosphere of a very British backdrop; the picturesque Pembroke Castle in Wales being very much the central location.
Sam Claflin famed for playing Hunger Games' flamboyant, charismatic Finnick, plays the larger-than-life, suave business man Will Traynor, who, after a brief motorcycle accident, unfortunately becomes a quadriplegic confided to his parents mansion in the Welsh countryside. Faced with a completely different way of life we see the frustrations and the bitterness that takes hold of him.
In walks in Lou Clark, a colourful, cheerful and sweet local lady played by Emilia Clarke who's down on her luck and becomes unemployed, looking for her next vocation. With little else out there she reluctantly accepts employment from Will's parents, played by Janet McTeer and fellow Game Of Thrones Star, Charles Dance, as carer for Will whose sole duty is to cheer-up the depressed and angry Mister Traynor.
She's met with hostility in the form of blunt sarcasm and general unwantedness but slowly and surely a relationship forms between the two and it's only her perseverance and pretty positivity that managed to eventually break down Will's stubbornness and get him out the house.
Harry Potter's Neville Longbottom, Matthew Lewis has come a long way and does good playing Clark's current fitness freak boyfriend and Hench-Hugh Grant look-a-like Stephen Peacocke is great support as Will's manual handler and I suppose friend.
Craig Armstrong does a good score as he usually does, (Love Actually, World Trade Center, Far From The Madding Crowd) but it's the soundtrack that is quite outstanding with a mellow remix of X Ambassadors' 'Unsteady' and tracks from Cloves, Ed Sheeran and Jack Garrett.
It's a great Britrom with all the same ingredients, sitting next to hits like Love Actually and About Time, but it isn't the tear-jerker I was expecting. Though hearing a lot of sniffles in the audience it didn't quite hit me as hard. There's some great scenes, it's superbly structured and well paced, it's touching but not quite the emotional train-wreck I thought it was going to be even with the controversial ending, which seems to gloss over the debate. I'm not faulting the film because it's probably most likely me.
Now the big controversial debate as this film has caused quite a stir within certain groups and I can understand why, but it's not about 'a people', nor does it represent 'a people' but be about a relationship between two people and nothing else and I think it boldly tackles real life issues without damning or belittling anyones life, disabled or not. Regardless of circumstance we all face life's hurdles with different approaches and attitudes, and to reflect badly on this is to assume all people never face such thoughts of suicide which, with current statistics I find very hard to believe and euthanasia would not even be a word. I'm not saying if it is right or wrong, just acknowledging the fact it does exist and is real, and is a thought that haunts many people regardless of circumstance.
Running Time: 9
The Cast: 9
Performance: 9
Direction: 9
Story: 7
Script: 7
Creativity: 8
Soundtrack: 9
Job Description: 5
The Extra Bonus Point: 10, Emilia Clarke is simply amazing. Beautiful and funny, she's such a joy to watch on scene, her smile and glossy eyes just gleam wonderment and excitement.. I've said too much.
82% 8/10
