Rating of
3/4
Living - Review
Matthew Brady - wrote on 11/03/22
"I don't have time to get angry."
I was weary going in since I loved the original 1953 movie, but I thought the remake was good.
With this being an English remake, it feels like the plot beats of the original, but I think it mirrors the similarity of obsession in different cultures. I think the British setting does serve a purpose with society's rules for men in the workplace, the gender roles, clocking in, clocking out, and then starting again. Every man in this movie wears an almost identical suit and business hat, all blending in together, fitting a dress code for working men. The pressure of making a living to stay a life, provide for loved ones, serve a business that will easily replace you, and keep a roof over your head rather than live.
To live a life without having no thoughts, no feelings, or just not taking it all in, you're a walking zombie. But that's what I got from it.
Bill Nighy is fantastic. He makes it look so effortless. He does so little, and yet it's so much more. There were plenty of times during the movie I thought to myself, "Man, Bill Nighy is so brilliant." The scenes between him and Aimee Lou Wood, who is also fantastic, were so sweet and playful. Her character does ignite his inner youth again. It's the rare special moments you get in life.
It's very 1950s Britain, but I like the way it looks. All the colours are a bit muted but weirdly still colourful and stick out. The score was used appropriately, the production/costume design looked superb, and the cinematography was great.
And yes, I cried. It's a sad movie but not to the point where it gets depressing. This movie (and the original) is more than sadness but hopefully to inspire others to start living, to take notice of what's around you, and make the most of the little time we got.
The atmosphere in the room when the movie ended was unusual. Everyone was silent, and not many got up to leave. It struck the audience at the core and made everyone reflect a bit. I could feel it in the air. That's what cinema is all about. It's been a while since we had that.
