A Long Way Down *** (2014, Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, Aaron Paul) – Movie Review

The stars of Need for Speed, Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots, reunite for this well-meaning, good-natured but rather depressing little drama based on Nick Hornby’s novel.

It would be depressing, wouldn’t it? It’s about suicide.

The unlikely premise is based on the supposedly amusing, incredible coincidence of four suicidal Londoners planning to jump off the roof of the same high-rise on the same night – New Year’s Eve.

The less depressing bit is, the quartet form a surrogate family to help one another weather the difficulties of their lives. That’s the heart-warming, uplifting bit. Though, admittedly, the suicidal bit is more believable. They eventually go on one of those only-in-the-movies trips of a lifetime – to Spain – to cheer themselves up.

Paul (replacing originally cast Emile Hirsch) looks depressive, so he’s better casting here than in Need for Speed, and a bit better in the acting department, though not really that much. Poots looks relentlessly cheerful and positive, so she’s got more of an acting schlep, but she’s definitely better in the acting department than in Need for Speed, thanks partly to her better casting. To be honest, modest though A Long Way Down is as a movie, it’s quite a bit better than Need for Speed in the achievement category, though admittedly there are no fast cars to distract you from the suicidal stories.

Toni Collette is good value as a depressed-looking Maureen. Depressed doesn’t come easy to the relentlessly cheerful and positive-looking Collette, either, but she acts it well. However, it’s Pierce Brosnan who comes off best, hey he’s the best, most experienced actor. You could never believe he’d want to commit suicide, Brosnan’s not quite that good an actor, but he’s very effective in the movie. Some scandal’s supposed to have tainted Brosnan’s character’s TV career, just in case you’re wondering why he’s depressed.

The post-Bond Brosnan is an actor to watch, follow and enjoy. It’s his third collaboration with Rosamund Pike after Die Another Day (2002) and The World’s End (2013). Pike, I like. Sam Neill and Tuppence Middleton, too, though they don’t get enough to do.

It’s odd that it’s based on a novel, because the film gives the impression of a filmed stage play, it’s that talky and static. All in all, it’s OK, but it’s A Long Way Down from the heights of the films of Hornby’s High Fidelity and especially About a Boy.

Johnny Depp bought the movie rights before the book’s initial release.

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http://derekwinnert.com/about-a-boy-classic-film-review-155/

http://derekwinnert.com/die-another-day-classic-film-review-408/

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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