Review: This movie has been described as a sci-fi flick but it`s actually more a drama than anything else. Sure, there`s a slight sci-fi element to it we won`t tell you what it is, you`ll have to watch it to find out but, ultimately, it`s the story of a friendship between three people and the ups and downs that inevitably come with it.
It`s also based on the acclaimed book by Kazuo Ishiguro and some fans of the book have not been too happy with this adaptation. But, since we`ve never read the book, we`re going to review this movie on its merits alone. In other words, if we offend fans of the book in any way, we really don`t mean to.
There seems to be only one word that could best describe this movie beautiful. It`s a beautiful story about friendship and, although it`s set in an alternate reality, it still oozes charm and a simple storyline that just draws you in from the first scene and keeps your eyes fixed on the screen the whole time.
One of the main reasons why this is such a beautiful movie is the cinematography. The English countryside is stunning, to say the least, and although it`s pretty bleak most of the time, it`s a romanticised kind of dreariness, if you get what we mean. You`ll also notice the drab colours that seem to fit with the whole movie apparently the colour palette for this film leaves out all primary colours. It`s this lack of bright, colourful images that is befitting indeed, for the often-grey English weather.
Much has been said about the three lead actors` performances, but we reckon Mulligan and Garfield are the bright stars here. It`s no surprise indeed, that young Brit actors are all the rage in Hollywood at the moment. Even the three child actors who play the young Ruth, Kathy and Tommy deserve high praise.
If you`re looking for a movie with a story and visuals that linger in your brain and your heart long after you`ve left the cinema, Never Let Me Go is the one for you.
Beautiful, stunning, charming and oh-so-English. Just the way we love our movies.
Balvinder Sandhu