This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Coming on the same path of films like "Dad" (1989) and "I Never Sang to My Father" (1970), Anand Tucker's film "When Did You Last See Your Father?" is another good example of a picture about a man examining his life and father's life after his father's illness and realizing that he'll no longer be living and the way he must deal with him, a man he didn't liked much for multiple reasons.Colin Firth plays Blake, the son in his adult days as a writer, remembering his childhood and teenage years (played brilliantly by Matthew Beard) with his father (Jim Broadbent) traveling, or in moments with his family where in one way or another his sportive dad always make fun of him to others, and his affair with other women, which is the cause of this bitterness with his father since Blake adored his mother (Juliet Stevenson) so much. Will Blake leave this past behind and try to know better what his father is or he'll keep the same feeling even now that he's recollecting all this memories about his life? The movie displays a enormous sense of emotion, but nothing so tear jacker but that depends on your view of life or movies and your personal experiences. While the film was more interesting in portraying Blake in his teen years where we know why he became the man we know, in his adult moments it wasn't too much interesting, although the performances were great. I expected something more dramatic in those moments, just like the duel Gene Hackman and Melvyn Douglas had in "I Never Sang to My Father"; Blake could have a more face to face moment where he exposes himself to his father of why he didn't liked him and the impressions of the father on Blake too, this is missing and in terms of films it could have reach a higher note, a bright difference that would make of "When Did You Last See Your Father?" a more memorable experience. It has some clichés of the genre and even with that it succeeds in being a good film with some funny parts (the young Blake having sex with his maid and hiding her in the bedroom in what they called 'the sex patrol' made by the father every time he entered the room) and well constructed dialogs. Firth, Broadbent, Stevenson are all great in scene, but Matthew Beard is the key figure here, a rare young talented actor in the role of Blake, a teenager more interested in his books than in his father and other amusements. For those who can recall by the name he plays Carey Mulligan's friend Graham in "An Education", the one who's interested in her all the time but she doesn't care much about him, and as a coincidence she's also in this film in a bit part.I liked it, enjoyed a lot, even though it could have been more instigating story or try to present something I haven't seen it. But everything presented here made of "When Did You Last See Your Father?" a very positive and reflective film. 8/10

Lot of us had troubled relationships with our fathers. Some get resolved, most of them do not. This movie is one man's attempt to come to terms with the death of his estranged father. It would be very easy to fall into trap of tear-jerking clichés, if director decided to pull the strings of cheap emotional response. Fortunately he had far more sense than that. As a result of his talent comes this warm, slightly disheveled movie without easy answers and final resolutions. Lack of resolution can be a resolution on its own. As usual in British movies we have an amazing cast of actors. Above all Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth, and the heartbreaking quiet suffering of Juliet Stevenson, whose subtle dignity spoke more than thousand words.

Reel Inspiration Review: When Did You Last See Your Father.When Did You Last See Your Father ignores standard Hollywood wisdom: Keep the title short and catchy. Avoid flashbacks. The action should be external, not internal. Make films that appeal to teenage boys. And most of all, don't do stories about old, dying people.In an article about what sells in Hollywood, an agent moans that she just can't read one more story about coping with aging, dying parents. The market was glutted with them. I couldn't help but think that this must be a very timely and heartfelt theme since it was popping up in so many scripts. Is it possible that there's an adult audience hungry for stories that help them deal with the hard issues in their lives? When Did You Last See Your Father is based on Blake Morrison's heart wrenchingly honest autobiographical bestseller. It is the story of the forty year old writer's attempts to resolve his troubled relationship with his father as he deals with his immanent death. Collin Firth courageously portrays the estranged son's sometimes unlikable sentiments of resentment, frustration, confusion, and disappointment tinged with compassion for his fading father. Being home brings back memories of coming of age in his charismatic father's shadow and discovering some hard realities about the man. Thanks to Jim Broadbent's dynamic performance, we can see why the son was once proud of him - even though he never felt his father's approval. Blake goes on an internal journey where he finds that he has some of his father's weaknesses. He must decide what kind of man he is to become. At first, the film's lengthy title seems to accuse the grown son of neglecting his father. But by the end, we discover that the title actually asks, "When was the last time you really saw your father - without your own feelings of inadequacy and resentment getting in the picture? When was the last time you saw love?"Movie Blessings! Jana Segal reelinspiration dot blogspot dot com

At its simplest this movie is about the love between two men - a father and son - that in spite of a deep desire to connect, cannot be shared between the two. At least not in life. And not until it is too late. Sadly, it is a story that is all too prevalent in our society.The film reflects this theme again and again with flashbacks of the son's experiences growing up with the father. Of course this is the son's world view and the film does not cover the father's perspective of events. So the question remains unanswered - was there truly no point of contact for the love between the two, or was the son blind to, or incapable of, receiving the love of the father?Well worth the investment of 92 minutes of your time.