Wordiezett So much average

Sexylocher Masterful Movie

Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Noutions Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

Jackson Booth-Millard This film proves that an old and well loved actor like the star of The Dark Knight and Inception can still cut it as the leading actor and not just supporting, and of course the following year he became Harry Brown. Basically, set in the 1980's, in an old people's home near the seaside unusual ten year old boy Edward (Son of Rambow's Bill Milner) is growing up surrounded by old people, and of course dying and death, so he has become fascinated if not obsessive with the subject, especially finding out evidence of the afterlife. While his Mum (Anne-Marie Duff) struggles to keep the business afloat and his Dad (David Morrissey) is having some form of mid-life crisis, Edward is making recordings of the elderly residents to try and discover what happens when they die, but what he really needs is a friend, being the lonely boy he is. They start by getting on each others' nerves, but slowly he forms an unlikely friendship with elderly retired magician Clarence (Sir Michael Caine), the latest arrival to the home, he has a liberating streak of anarchy. As they spend time together the old man wants to help Edward find an answer to his question and the boy wants to help Clarence come to terms with the past, he is also suffering the early stages of dementia. Clarence gets to perform one last magic show, which has comedic consequences for a man's finger, but like all the old people he cannot escape death and dies tragically, Edward is devastated, so much so that he knows it is best to live in the moment. Also starring Coronation Street's Thelma Barlow as Ena, Spider-Man's Rosemary Harris as Elsie, Leslie Phillips as Reg, Ralph Riach as Clive, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone's Elizabeth Spriggs as Prudence, The Queen's Sylvia Syms as Lilian, Peter Vaughan as Bob, Ralph Ineson as Mr. Kelly, Larry David as Fireman and Miles Jupp as Vicar. Caine gives a marvellous authentic and touching performance as the troubled old man who through friendship finds enjoyment of living, and young Milner is likable as the lonely eccentric boy with an unusual interest and finding equal comfort, the supporting cast members are all fine as well, the story is simple enough, an unlikely friendship based on the subject of mortality, it may feel a bit awkward on occasion and lapse into sentimentality, but the occasionally sometimes dark humour and poignant moments rescue it, overall it is an enjoyable enough drama. Worth watching!

punishmentpark That (summary) line from Caine is golden, here in more than one way I suppose, when he utters it to the little boy.A feel-good movie about a lonely boy who wants to know the truth about life after death and lives among the dying with his parents - with their marriage in not a great shape - taking care of them... I'm not sure I should call that feel-good.The meandering progression of the story does a lot of good to it, making turns like a little creek, that are as much picturesque as they are unexpected. On the other hand, don't expect a shocker, as this remains a feel-good movie in its core.It could have done with a little less sentimentality and obviousness, but it is certainly a worthwhile, charming film on the whole with some really good acting. O, and that cinematic 'trick' with the tape recorder is a really neat one.A big 7 out of 10.

martys-7 There is a hazy feeling permeating through "Is Anybody There?" as the perception of life for the 10-year-old protagonist is affected by the impermanence of the elderly residents living at home. Edward, who has been asked by his parents to give up his bedroom to accommodate residents in the house they have converted into a rest home, struggles with the concept of death as the elderly around him decay and die. He tries to record evidence of the existence of the soul while his obsession makes him an outsider at school and in his own home. The scenes are clearly his memories: this is the mid-80s with "Back to the Future" at the movie theater and "Come on Eileen" on the radio, his parents' quarrels, the boring classroom, his anger at the situation, and old folks dropping dead.Clarence, played masterfully by Michael Caine, is a former vaudeville magician referred by social services and in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's, who becomes a new resident in the home against his wishes. Eventually, Clarence's bitter cynicism is lifted by Edward's ebullience and they bond but despite magic tricks and tenderness their moments will be far from perfect and they will not necessarily alter their belief system and be wiser.This movie does not follow the contrived formula of the old person/young person plot written and performed countless times, often sweetened with sentimentality and conveying the idea that both lives will change for the better. The older one, often bitter or jaded, learns to love again and spends his/her last days as a better human being thanks to the younger one's candor and energy, while, the inexperienced younger one learns the bittersweet lessons of living and dying from the older one. Sometimes, the formula is inverted and the elderly is optimistic and energetic teaching a child how to open up to life while the young one brings grounding common sense. "Is anybody There?" it is not this type of movie, there are no big lessons and imparting of wisdom. It is just a short tale of two lost souls meeting and departing and the process of aging and dying at a rest home. The scenes do not try to be sentimental or evoke notion of what is living and dying but search for a realistic tone showing the elderly and the rest home daily living under a natural light.Michael Caine's poignant vulnerable performance as a man living on a meager pension in his last days while still trying to maintain his dignity is award-worthy. Prodigious young actor Bill Milner (who was fantastic in "Son of Rambow") is a perfect match creating a delightful portrait of a lonely, confused and angry boy who is too smart for his own good.If you are the type of viewer you enjoy conventional dramas or comedies that involve children and seniors, this movie may not be for your. If you wish to watch a British slice of life where a boy and an old man come together for a brief shining moment as one is growing and the other dying, this movie is perfection.

wokeemosabae This movie actually is not that great. Or great t all for that matter. It's very slow moving and definitely is not a 7 out of 10, usually IMDb is correct in assessments of movies but it got it wrong on this one. I am writing this while waisting 1:30 of my life watching this movie. If you like it, kudos, and this is not one of Caines best movies. I love English movies however this one is terrible. I could barely make out everything that was said and I have seen snatch, lock stock and two smoking barrels, kidulthood,etc. If you are looking for a movie to go to sleep on, this is definitely the one for you. It will put you into a deep sleep and you will not miss a thing. The plot........horrible, the acting........pretty good, the story line...... is lame. I could have written a better story.