It is hard to say that author Blake (Colin Firth) respects or admires his dad Arthur (Jim Boradbent) much. He is even embarassed by him and a little angry. And who can blame him?
Arthur wasn’t exactly a model father. He was cheap, didn’t support his son’s dreams, cheated on his mom with his mother’s sister; all the while his mom was aware of the whole thing???
There is a lot of anger in Blake and there is much confrontation to be made but Blake has to overlook all these feelings when Arthur gets really sick. Blake moves back home for a while to help his mother and sister out and trying to be with his father in his final days. Despite all the negative stuff that has happened, a father-son relationship is just too complicated to be just in black and white…
There is no problem with the acting or the direction. Colin never has trouble playing any character but emotional just suits him even better. The only problem here is that we have seen this story before. Maybe not with all its elements but it has been there. The less than perfect father? Angry son? The resiliant wife who loves her husband despite everything???It is a true story but what would movie-goers lose if this has not been made into film? Sadly, the answer is nothing.
I am not saying this is a bad film. I am just saying it is all too familiar. If you are not an absolute fan of father-son films and are not crazy about Colin Firth, there is not much point in seeing it.
If you do want to see a much more remarkable father-son(s) movie, watch The Boys are Back with Clive Owen. Also a real story, but with much more interesting elements and more likeable characters…
Other Posts on Colin Firth
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The British Actors We Love feat. Colin Firth, Daniel Day Lewis, Rufus Sewell and Ralph Fiennes
St. Trinian’s starring Colin Firth
Apartment Zero starring Colin Firth
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The English Patient feat. Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas & Colin Firth
Hollywood’s Tall Actors feat. Colin Firth, Keanu Reeves, Gerard Butler & More
A life lesson…Colin was wonderful, as usual !!! An amazing movie… I loved it!
I think I am too pissed at the father’s character to like the movie much :D:D The guy drove me mad:D
I really prefer The Boys Are Back with Clive Owen. His character was a lousy first husband, a wonderful second husband, and a father who tries really hard after his wife dies…Loved it.