NEVER LET ME GO (2010 - Cert 12A)

Often when I use the word Sci-fi people recoil as their mind conjures up images of huge space ships, grey, rainy dystopian futures and alien life forms perfectly evolved for the purpose of hunting humans. The reality is though, and forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, it so much more than that. Jurassic Park - good wholesome family entertainment right? Yes but it's also Sci-fi, because it contains both science and fiction. So for every Blade Runner, there is an ET, and for every 2001 Space Odyssey, there is a comedy like Woody Allen's Sleeper. It's not all geeky nerd terrain where you need to know the difference between The Sulaco and The Nostromo to be allowed into the club.

And so we get to Never Let Me Go, based on the 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, which may appear from the posters and the trailers as just a love story made to tug at your heartstrings but is actually science fiction at its simplest and most effective. I need to be careful what I say because I do not want to let any spoilers seep out, but Ishiguro looks at reality and asks 'what if?' and through that one question he creates an incredible alternative reality that explores what it means to be human and makes us ponder what the price of a human life is.



We are shown this alternative vision through the lives of 3 people - Kathy, Tommy and Ruth (played by 3 big British names - Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley respectively) as they grow up, starting in the sheltered life they lead at a boarding school called Hailsham before leaving and being housed in a gated community called 'The Cottages'. What plays out is essentially a love triangle but to refer to it as that really doesn't do it justice, because it's much more than that. Much of the reason for this is to do with the acting on show. Carey Mulligan as Kathy is fantastic. She promised a great deal in An Education and really cements her reputation in this film. Kathy is the centre of the film, narrating some of it, and she really holds it all together, Mulligan playing her with skill as someone battling on with no hope but trying so hard not to let this show. Garfield is also making a name for himself (I'm due to watch the Social Network this afternoon and am looking forward to seeing him in that) and his performance in Never Let Me Go is good enough to make me think that the new Spiderman (The Amazing Spiderman) might actually not be a load of tosh. His Tommy is full of youthful naievety that makes him endearing but also heartbreaking to watch as everything unfolds around him. It is both Mulligan and Garfield that are the standout performances but Knightley is also very decent as the least likeable character of the three. Despite the nasty, manipulative streak to Ruth she still managed to elicit a sympathy in me towards her which is an achievement worth mentioning.

The feel and look of the film is another factor in making it so affecting. Mark Romanek direction ensure it is cold and distant in it's tone, it really felt as though I was kept at arm's length, an outsider looking in. It's a similar feel to his only other feature of note, One Hour Photo (he has largely done music videos and documentaries since) and really gives proceedings a chilling feel. It also deals with the big moments and unveilings in such an understated and matter-of-fact manner that they almost fall under the radar. It's cleverly manages to make the plight of the characters feel even more upsetting. The soft constant score also heightens the emotion attached to proceedings.

I also think it right to mention Alex Garland who wrote the screenplay. Since he had such success with his book The Beach he has penned this film, as well as 28 Days Later and Sunshine. He's clearly one to keep an eye on.

So, I hope I haven't given anything away because to see this film without any prior knowledge is how it should be done. It's interesting, upsetting, at times uplifting and most of all incredibly thought-provoking. 4 days after seeing it I'm still turning it over in my cranium. I read an article in the Sunday Times last week announcing the death of intelligent cinema. This film is exhibit one in the evidence to disprove that statement.

AN EDUCATION (2009)

Finally I managed to get back on to my Lovefilm choices, they had somehow taken a bit of a back seat and I was starting to wonder whether my monthly outlay was worth it. However, when An Education landed on my desk at work I knew I had to make some time to see it. Plus it was one that I could easily persuade the girlfriend to watch.



Smothered with critical praise and award nominations after it's release last year, it's the simple coming of age story of a 16 year old girl (Carey Mulligan) in 1961 Suburban London, on track for a stellar education at Oxford University before she falls for the seductive charms of of Peter Sarsgaard's older man. Her life changes and she finds herself at a crossroads, academic education or 'The University of Life'.

Based on the memoirs of British journalist Lynn Barber, and the screenplay written by British novelist Nick Hornby, it's the acting cast that make this film such a pleasure to watch and make it worthy of the praise that it has received. Carey Mulligan, as Jenny, the young girl and lead character is truly fantastic. She was up for an Oscar, and could not have been far off grabbing it, for her portrayal of a girl going from wide eyed innocence to thinking she knows it all as she wrestles with the right way to grow into her adult life. She is equally at ease at playing a geeky, cello playing college girl as she is as a maturing socialite wining and dining in Paris. It's her breakthrough performance and it's clear she has a bright future ahead of her.

Alfred Molina, as Jenny's father is once again fantastic. He represents the now very dated views of the only way that a woman can succeed is to excel academically or to meet a successful man. Even though his opinions are practically prehistoric and is often seen as the baddie of the piece, it is a testament to Molina that he manages to be so likeable. You also feel a great deal of sympathy for him as he is convinced that there is little worth doing outside of their suburban bubble, while Jenny boasts of eating great food, and drinking fine wine. He wants the best for his daughter but he does not know what that is.

Peter Sarsgaard is no doubt in line for the big time as well based on this performance. He is charming and appealing as Jenny's (much) older suitor David, despite the relationship itself being undoubtedly open to misinterpretation. His slick manners and the ease with which he deals with people seduces Jenny despite it being clear that he is not all that he seems and the way he earns his crust is also far from honest.

The cast list goes on - Dominic Cooper as David's good friend and 'business partner', does plenty with what he is given. Like David he is amiable and fun, but you are exposed to moments of aggression that leave you in no doubt that he is capable of being far from nice. Rosamund Pike is good as Cooper's ditsy  wife, representing a possible glimpse as to what Jenny's life will become if she choose to enrol in 'The University of Life'.

Then just when you think that the roster must be complete, Emma Thompson turns up as the Headmistress of Jenny's school. She only appears for two scenes but it's a worthy addition and she pulls it off without trying.

The film is well made too, Lone Scherfig doing a tidy job with the material, but she admirably pulls off a reconstruction of 1960's London. Each old car and dated shop front making you feel as though you are there, transported back in time. Nick Hornby must get a mention as well for the screenplay. Having not read the source material I'm not sure how good an adaptation it is, but there is enough good stuff in there to suggest he may have a new penning career there for the taking.

It's not all positives though, there are some issues that stop it from being as good as it promises to be. Once the relationship takes a turn for the worst and Jenny's choices are shown to be far from right, things become very dark very swiftly. However, just as quickly as things went badly, they all turn around for the better again. All of a sudden. An entire academic year is condensed into 5 minutes of screen time and we all live happily ever after. It's not that I dislike a happy ending (although they do irritate me), it's just that this all felt too neat. She learnt her lesson, made it right, and everything is sweetness again. All in the space of ten minutes.

Also, despite the performances being brilliant, the characters themselves are slightly two dimensional, seemingly there to represent a particular point of view of political stance. Only Dominic Cooper and Peter Sarsgaard, other than Jenny herself, have anything resembling depth.

These criticisms though do not detract from what is essentially a lovely, very watchable film, with a brilliant cast, presenting important subject matter in a polished slice of cinema.

We can all relate to it, we've all been a young person convinced that we all know better than anyone else, only to be shown that our innocent naivety will see us caught out by someone else more wily, leaving us to eat our words in the end.