Am I Missing Something?

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Watched this tonight - on demand in the UAE. Was such a pleasant surprise - OK not an Oscar winner but a sensitive subject - pursued well. Well constructed, edited and quite polished. Not art-house, not mainstream, but polished performances from all. A really good "fall back movie" when garbage is on the telly. Well done - perfectly executed - with characters that in real life you would not understand, or at least maybe even dismiss. Movies like this are a real "gem" (maybe I am a bit weird but I loved the Station Agent, Leibstrum and Run Lola Run) as I like the different perspective in movies. This was just a good piece of film-making!! A good night in!

Based on popular author Nick Hornby's novel of the same name, Pascal Chaumeil's adaptation of A Long Way Down is a tonally awkward film that you can't help but feel had more to give had it been more efficiently made, but thanks to a talented acting ensemble, the film overcomes many of its narrative troubles to be an enjoyable and even sometimes touching tale of life and friendship.Setting a film around botched suicide attempts seems like a sure-fire trip into Depressionville but this is absolutely a comedic look at a subject that arguably needed a little more realism attached to it. We have a disgraced TV personality Martin (Brosnan), hardworking mother Maureen (Collette), loud and obnoxious young lady Jess (Poots) and forlorn pizza delivery guy J.J (Paul) who create a rag-tag bunch of people that in real life would not put up with each other for more than a few minutes but here take holidays together and it sets up many awkward moments and musings on life and all its troubles. It's often a very strange scenario and one about as far away from realism as your likely to get but the actors here do some fine work despite Imogen Poot's grating performance and Dario Marianelli's overbearing score.It's always nice to see Pierce Brosnan given something to do and he aces his role as Martin. Martin is a believable character and along with Toni Collette's Maureen he makes for the film's most relatable figures. This is what A Long Way Down needed a little more of to really make it fly, some relatability and persons that feel cut from the real world. Aaron Paul does some nice work also as J.J, a man who's not quite sure why he feels the way he does and that too is something I'm sure people can associate with. It's nice to see Paul succeed here as he has an undeniable presence on screen when given the right material. The films largest annoyance (other than the wasting of Sam Neill and Rosamund Pike in short support turns) is by far Imogen Poots. Her Jess is a tacky and insipid creation that will bring the films mood down consistently in an overplayed and over extenuated role, all loud noises and arrogant remarks, it truly is an annoying thing to witness.A Long Way Down has some nice things to say about life, love and friendship and while it's all told in a very Hollywood light way, the message is still an important one. While not everything here rings true and some situations would've been better suited on the cutting room floor, there is enough here to suggest many will find enjoyment and maybe even some life affirming notions amongst all the goings on.3 step ladders out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

A Long Way Down (2014)There are a lot of films these days that set up this kind of comedy formula: an unlikely crisis forces strangers together, and they don't get along (at first). So you are dazzled by the odd circumstances, and by the funny ways people adjust. The plot then zigs and zags and eventually (of course) some or all of the main characters find their happiness. It's a good approach with the script sparkles and the acting is fun. "Chef" is a recent case, and even better is "We're the Millers.""A Long Way Down" can't match up to those in terms of wit and sheer fun. But it has moments that click, and it has a knock out performance by one of the four leads, Imogen Poots. See it for her alone. Of course the biggest name is the former James Bond player (often voted one of the worst to take on that role), Pierce Brosnan, and he's meant to be a dull, superficial type here, so he comes through naturally. Throw in the ever talented Toni Collette and you have a good cast. (The fourth is Aaron Paul.)The premise starts very fast, and is quite funny. In fact, I got my hopes ups that this was going to be a sizzling, truly great offbeat comedy just by the first ten minutes where it complicates quickly. You see, it's New Year's Eve and one of the four has gotten to the top of a tall London building and plans to jump. Then a second shows up and spoils his plans, and he decides to wait and let her jump so he can have the roof to himself. Then a third. And you see what is beginning to unfold.You get some backstory details that are just enough to make you see their problems— and also see that these are all really sympathetic characters. And of course they shouldn't be suicidal, not for real. There are further ups and downs as they help and then harm each other's emotional progress. And so on.I liked it. And I loved the performance by Poots, who just slashes through the crap and lights up the screen. Is this a brilliant movie—no. It's too much caught in the formula, so even the twists are expected. But I thought it was better than the reviews overall let on… you might give it a go. Expect some light entertainment and you might be quite happy watching.

great film! so good to see pierce brosnan doing this kind of workalong w other films he's recently done. well done.wow. human beings huh? life. etc. love. the lives of strangers in our own towns. apartment buildings. humanity.if we'd only have a bit more compassion each week. a small thing here or there for another. turn off the spirit crushing TV programming and watch some good films like this one. might do the trick. if only for a moment.better than nothing.