Living

Bill Nighy 73 years old still a masterful actor very deserving of the award nominations regardless winning the award he was outstanding in Living! A small note before I go in more details I thought its adorable that I was/am the youngest person that saw the film all the rest were old folks. Anyways such a heartfelt somber story of a man finding out about a fatal illness that wants to live it up a little and accomplish some great things. Such a wonderfully directed cinema only a little slow paced otherwise absolutely worth watching. I am glad I saw mainly because I enjoy seeing most everything nominated, would highly recommend.

Bill Nighy gives a restrained performance in this gentle, unoffensive film with a nice if somewhat cliche message about what it means to do something with your life that you'll be remembered for. There's nothing wrong with this movie, but it's so determined to be proper and British that it never really comes alive either. Nighy has been honored with a Best Actor Oscar nomination. He's fine for what the role requires, but it's not an especially memorable performance, ironic since he plays a man who decides he wants to do something good he'll be remembered for after he dies. Aimee Lou Wood is the standout in this film. No one has ever made an overbite look cuter or more adorable. Kazuo Ishiguro also received an Oscar nomination for the film's adapted screenplay, an update of the Kurosawa film "Ikiru." Grade: B.

I think I maybe expected too much from this film, primarily because of the trailers and the official bumpf. Sadly, it did not live up to either billing. It is a sweet story about a bored/boring English Civil Servant bumbling through his life after 'recently' becoming widowed. After a terminal illness diagnosis we are led to believe his epiphany will lead to a rambunctious remainder of his days but this never materialises. The film undoubtedly picks up after the funeral scene and some of the characters display more depth but the film rarely uses this opportunity to pick up the pace and I felt we were left with a 'what could have been.'

I must admit, I haven't seen the original Akira Kurosawa film, so I have nothing to compare this with. But I shouldn't have to, it should stand on its own. Sadly it doesn't. I found this movie just couldn't follow a single style or even narrative. It jumped all over the place, and just when you thought it was over, it kept going. I guess a good analogy would be if 4 or 5 different directors had been given the task of filming a certain section of this film, then they stitched it together to make one movie, that's what this viewing was like. I didn't understand how some characters could disappear from their work or their family for days, weeks, months at a time, and nobody called the police, and they still had a job. I also couldn't understand the negative interactions between Bill Nighy's character and his son and daughter-in-law. What was the reason for them being so mean to him? There was no background on this. The acting was decent, but nothing remarkable or earth shattering. Bill Nighy was his usual self, but not really carrying the movie. The young lady's performance was okay, but I was constantly distracted by her front teeth. I get it, that's her trademark look, but it still didn't help me feel invested in her character. Everyone else in the movie was just there to build up or support Bill Nighy's character. They were okay, but nothing remarkable. I didn't recognize Adrian Rawlins, though! I will always remember as the solicitor who took on the Woman In Black in 1989. Overall, just a so so movie. I wouldn't call it life-changing by any means. The look was the only thing going for it. Maybe I will check out the Kurosawa film and see how it compares to this one.