NEVER LET ME GO
RYAN: Never Let Me Go is a sci-fi/romantic drama based on a book that you read and I didn’t.
CAROLINE: I read the book years ago, and while I remember enjoying it and liking the premise, I found it slow and a tad boring. I’d say the same thing about the movie. Once you find out what’s going on, it’s not that exciting anymore.
RYAN: I really liked watching it all unfold. In the beginning, you’re not sure exactly what’s going on and you’re not really thinking about it. It just seems like a movie about kids at a boarding school or an orphanage, who then grow up to be Academy Award nominees Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan.
CAROLINE: Not to mention the Tobey Maguire/Spider-Man replacement, Andrew Garfield. The casting of the kids was amazing. Their acting was great, and they all totally looked like their grown-up counterparts.
RYAN: Wait, that guy is the new Spider-Man? He’s so gawky and not that cute!
CAROLINE: Like Tobey Maguire is super hot? Please.
RYAN: I know, but I’m shocked. I really don’t get that casting at all.
CAROLINE: Getting back to the movie… it’s very well shot and pretty to look at, but verrrrrry slow paced. Which is fine, at times, but if you go in already knowing the premise, it’s just not that exciting. I wasn’t bored, but it’s definitely a moody, meditative movie. The premise is more interesting than the execution.
RYAN: It’s no Inception in terms of its layers, but you do have to pay attention to what’s going on. It’s a slow burn for sure, and though dramatic and even gut wrenching things happen between the characters, it didn’t totally captivate me.
CAROLINE: I really loved the scene on the beach with the three main characters, and the ending is great and very intense. I loved Carey Mulligan’s haunting voice over too. But the rest of the movie is just so-so. It never really took off for me.
RYAN: The performances of the two main girls are great, and there are also some really interesting design and costume choices. I liked the use of color, and I really liked the music.
CAROLINE: OMG, I loved the score! So beautiful and haunting. The movie reminded me a tiny bit of Atonement with the theme of regret and betrayal, though it’s not nearly as good a movie as Atonement was.
RYAN: I heard they were very true to the book though, and that people think this is a good movie adaptation.
— BOTTOM LINE —
CAROLINE: People who read the book will want to see this movie. And I suspect that the people who see the movie who haven’t read the book will probably want to go back and read it. It’s almost inspiring me to re-read the book, just to see if it’s as dull as I remember. It’s got a very compelling premise that makes you gasp when you realize what’s going on, but after that you’re just kind of along for the ride. The ending is good though. I think there’s definite Oscar potential for art direction, cinematography and stuff like that. Possibly for acting too, though it’s too early in the season to start speculating about that.
RYAN: I liked this movie. It’s not for all audiences; it’s a very adult, slow, mature film that’s haunting and heartbreaking and intense. It actually made me sick to my stomach at one point. It’s not for the kids; I would have been bored to tears watching this as a teenager. It’s good, and I’m glad we saw it.
— RATING —
