Never Let Me Go

[aruif]

i did actually almost let rip a massive ....
6.5/10 for me

thought you were going to say something else.

cant wait for this at Slackers club on thursday, some interesting sci fi is definitely needed now.

haha now that would have been interesting!!

[kevinknapman]

Second time seeing this after catching it at the London Film Festival. I found it profoundly moving both times. Especially in the final stretch. Whether that is down to the material or Carey Mulligan's performance I'm not so sure, but she is extraordinary in this. Andrew Garfield was really good too. Kiera Knightley was just adequate though.
I liked the pace of the film and wasn't bored at all although I knew what happens both times having read the book.

My only misgivings where some minor changes of the book. The significance of the song was underplayed and completely changed. In the book when she holds the cushion to her, she's actually imagining that the song is about a mother singing to her child. The sad irony being that she will never be able to have children of her own. In the film it just becomes another part of her love for Tommy.

The one thing I was left wondering, though, was why they don't just go AWOL. I assume the book explains it, but there's no mention in the film.

It's not exactly explained in the book but the author did say that he wasn't interested in telling that story and was more interested in showing how people just accept that they are going to die someday. They've become conditioned by their time in Hailsham to accept their role in life. I'm glad they didn't choose to have them escaping as it would have just come across as an arty Logan's Run. I realise some people find that frustrating but I think it just makes it more sad and moving.

who were the people they were looking for?

They were clones, so they were looking for the people they were clones of.

[soonforgotten]

I really enjoyed this (though it was barely audible at Swiss Cottage, wtf?)

Sound seemed fine for me at SC!

It seemed like the only audio was coming from the front speakers. Being seated in the middle it was a struggle to hear the dialogue properly, especially early on when people were coming in late and constantly crinkling bags. I'm quite certain the audio was rubbish. I have better sound from my telly.

[funthing29]

Garfield dethrones Firth at Evening Standard awards

Colin Firth's seemingly unstoppable run of success during awards season took a stumble on Monday when he was beaten to a best acting prize by Andrew Garfield. Garfield was honoured at the Evening Standard film awards for his roles in The Social Network and Never Let Me Go.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12384504

Shocking! Firth's performance in The King's Speech is on another level to Garfield's acting ability!

I can only assume they are trying to reward the up and coming actors whereas Firth is already a household name.

[weirdfilms33]

I skipped out on this one. Felt too tired and frustrated. My mum and sister went, though, and they did enjoy it. I wouldn't expect them of all people to dislike it though..

[sophlowe45]

Not my cup of tea I'm afraid. I guess you have to be in the right mood for it. Too much was left unexplained, perhaps the book would enlighted me more. Why were some of them carers, and not just ordinary folk? If they were bred to be donors, why let some get deferred for x amount of years. Where did they come from , who were the people they were looking for? As others said, why didn't they just run away or commit suicide together?

Ididn't find it tearjerking or anything, just a momentary thought that it would be awful if that actually came to be. My mood wasn't helped by the girl in front who kept on waving her feet around, and the guy behind me kicking the back of my seat. Worst of all was the guy behind eating. I've not idea what it was but it was LOUD Crunching away through the quiet bits with his mouth open by the sound of it, grrr.

And for some reason there was some sort of loud machinery noise throughout the whole film, no idea what it was 6/10

you weren't in Whiteleys were you?

[prettyxcool]

I thought it was so, so sad too! Not a tear jerker but very dreary and depressing, although interesting and thought provoking. How easily people can be indoctrinated, and accept their life. I too wanted to scream like Andrew Garfield - I feel his frustration. The pace seemed to go extra slow in the middle and unfortunately, I found it very difficult to keep awake. I thought it was well casted with the younger versions of the main characters who look and sounded like Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield although when Kiera came on, I kept confusing her with Winona! Noticed that Andrea Riseborough and Sally Hawkins popping up again. 7/10

[valda]

Not my cup of tea I'm afraid. I guess you have to be in the right mood for it. Too much was left unexplained, perhaps the book would enlighted me more. Why were some of them carers, and not just ordinary folk? If they were bred to be donors, why let some get deferred for x amount of years. Where did they come from , who were the people they were looking for? As others said, why didn't they just run away or commit suicide together?

Ididn't find it tearjerking or anything, just a momentary thought that it would be awful if that actually came to be. My mood wasn't helped by the girl in front who kept on waving her feet around, and the guy behind me kicking the back of my seat. Worst of all was the guy behind eating. I've not idea what it was but it was LOUD Crunching away through the quiet bits with his mouth open by the sound of it, grrr.

And for some reason there was some sort of loud machinery noise throughout the whole film, no idea what it was 6/10

you weren't in Whiteleys were you?

Indeed I was, hoping I've not been rude about fellow fmukers

[yogi]

The one thing I was left wondering, though, was why they don't just go AWOL. I assume the book explains it, but there's no mention in the film.

It's not exactly explained in the book but the author did say that he wasn't interested in telling that story and was more interested in showing how people just accept that they are going to die someday. They've become conditioned by their time in Hailsham to accept their role in life. I'm glad they didn't choose to have them escaping as it would have just come across as an arty Logan's Run. I realise some people find that frustrating but I think it just makes it more sad and moving

That annoyed me as well. It's fine that the author didn't want to tell that chase story, but if you are going to ground the story in as real a world as possible and establish that
Spoiler
then surely they would have an instinct to survive despite their conditioning.

So I found it hard to believe, thus care about anyone.

It had some interesting ideas and
would make a decent thesis or article, but even sci-fi has to have it's own logic to it.

Although I thought both young and older Cathy were very good and the scenes at the school were excellent.

[Insane_Drusilla]

I saw it tonight and felt like it was a flawed beauty. Parts of it worked for me, especially the ideas of longing and acceptance but too many questions were hanging around for me. The biggest being...why oh why didnt TOMMY PICKED CATHY IN THE FIRST PLACE. If his love was so strong for her why didnt he just leave Ruth! Maybe I missed the point but it just upsetted me that he didnt just scream I LOVE CATHY with all his rage issues.

6/10