Never Let Me Go- Film Review

Never Let Me Go is a harrowing romantic drama following the love triangle of scientfic specimins grown up and produced to provide their organs for severely ill paitients. It's based on the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. The film follows Kathy, Tommy & Ruth played by up and coming actors & actresses Carey Mulligan (Kathy), Andrew Garfield (Tommy) & Keira Knightley (Ruth) and is directed by Mark Romanek.

The film is played in 3 parts 'Hailsham', 'Cottages' & 'Completion' which each follow the characters at diferent times in there lives. In Hailsham the film follows introduces the characters as 12-14 year olds in a private school in Hailsham and follows them as they bond and become better friends. The younger Kathy start to approach loner Tommy and they together form a strong lifelong connection. Hailsham also introduces the plot to the audience in an incredibly moving scene in which a teacher (Sally Hawkins) breaks the rules and tells the children about how they're lives are planned out for them and that they will become adults and that "sometime after your 3rd donation, your short life will be complete." The film continues to follow the characters as they grow up and progress. At the start of 'Cottages' the child actors are changed into their adult alter ego's and whoever did a casting job should pat themself on the back as the children looked and acted perfectly to match their counterparts, this happened to the extent that my weeping mum turned to me when the film had finished and asked me "is it the same girl playing herself as a child."


The acting in the film is amazing, Mulligan's performance is quiet and sincere but showed real emotion at good times making her the perfect character to sympathise with. While Andrew Garfield's performance lived up to his amazing performance in The Social Network reaching its peak in a fit of rage that the character has go's through in the middle of a country road which I will admit brought me to tears. Knightley's performance of Ruth is very malicious and angry which creates a contrast for the audience from Kathy of a character to dislike. The three main characters in the film work exceptionally well together to make the audience Smile, Laugh and Cry as a unit.

The Symbolism is very important in the film, every now and then moments from the film click in my head and alters my perception of the film, In a Hailsham scene while the children play bat & ball and it lands outside of the school's fences. Tommy runs after until he realises its over the fence. Miss Lucy's reaction to this strange action prompts a horror story told by the young Ruth and when questioned about whether she thinks these stories are true or not she replies  "Who'd make up stories as horrible as that?" Later on I realised that this is ironic seeing as they have to take the same stance when they find out there own future fate. When eventually the children do find out there fate a shot of Tommy's Ball in the grass is shown which may symbolise that as they revcieve all of this news there's nothing they can so about this. Which mirrors the facts that nothing can be done for the ball.

Overall I feel incredibly moved and touched by this film, the idea of the film is so atrocious to comprehend that I think people could have some completely different stances on the film and some may fault its differences from the novel. I think as well as this no person can doubt that this film is very emotional and touch and maybe people will feel this to different extents but I personally believe that the beauty of the mise en Scene and the sheer emotion that the actors conjour up in the film lead to the creation of a brilliant almost faultless film.


9.5/10 
Tips- If you're the kind of person who watches a film in the moment then i suggest preparing yourself for a film that could well rattle your bones.


(Thankyou for reading, this is my first review, If you have any time please email me at harveyraoul@hotmail.co.uk and share your thoughts and give me some hints as I would very much like to improve)

Announcement

About half a month ago or so I had a parents evening, and honestly it was rather traumatic to say the least. I guess you could say that I should be doing better. In hinesight its what i need and overall a real eye opener. It also got me thinking alot about what i want to do with my life as i have speant most of my college career running in multible directions and getting my head stuck. I eventually started to think about going into filmaking whether that is Editing or Directing. I looked up university courses and they say that a good thing to have is a portfolio and i thought that a good way to do this may be to review films. I watch atleast 2 films a week whether i've seen them already or nt doesnt matter but I can write about them!!!

So I thought that maybe this blog will not just be me ranting about stuff but may also be a chance to put my views on films forwards and maybe give you a good honest opinion.

SO FROM NOW ON THIS MAY NOT JUST BE THE SMALL IRRITATED COMPLAINING GUY BUT "THE SMALL IRRITATED FILM REVIEWING COMPLAINING GUY!!!!"