“If you’re going to handle such a difficult problem with sensitivity, you’d need to give it to two master actors. Welcome Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman. Watching Coleman and Hopkins play off each other is a joy”
“Florian Zeller has done a wonderful job. You get a sense of each character without the exposition and verbiage.
– Con Nats
5/5 Missing Watches
It’s an age old problem but one that is more prevalent important now that Baby Boomers are seeing their parents suffer it. Dementia. And anyone who has seen a parent suffer it, will know how deeply it’s felt by those who care for them.
It follows the decline of Anthony, (Anthony Hopkins) who can be two parts grumpy and one part charming. He is being looked after by dutiful daughter Anne (Olivia Coleman), who is torn between her love for the old man and love for a man of her own.
Anthony likes to upset his carers, (Imogen Poots is the new one) and partners of his daughter.
This takes the point of view of Anthony which opens up a world of clever and disorientating shifts. Suddenly, you’re not sure what’s real, imagined or remembered, what’s in the past or present. You certainly grasp an understanding of the tribulations of dementia. It’s an excellent concept, even if it’s not an original one.
If you’re going to handle such a difficult problem with sensitivity, you’d need to give it to two master actors. Welcome Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman. Watching Coleman and Hopkins play off each other is a joy. They receive enough close ups to convey their emotions without as many words. It’s touching acting.
With actors this good, the writer may as well direct it themselves. (Believe me, it puts a stop to the pointless script changes.) And Florian Zeller has done a wonderful job. You get a sense of each character without the exposition and verbiage. It’s what great actors can bring out. The editing is tight, the sets are nicely lit and the camera work is simple. All he had to do was sit back and watch Hopkins and Coleman play.
This is an adaptation of the award winning play, and is already nominated for a slew of Academy Awards. They’re all deserved. It’s short, to the point and doesn’t delve too deeply into the character’s past, but it doesn’t have to. This is about the labyrinth of the decaying mind, which provides two top class actors the grounds to play with.
If you still haven’t ventured into the cinema, now is the time to. This film is more than worth it.
Con Nats, On The Town
