Me Before You (2016) Reviewed By Jay

United States, 25 December 2015

 

Jay´s Review

Was Clint Eastwood in England in 1985 when Sam Claflin was conceived? We just saw a two-hanky weeper that features a young man who is the very image of a young Eastwood. "Me Before You" is so sure it can reduce you to tears, we were offered small boxes of tissues as we entered the theater. In this award-winning romantic drama, we see a recently paralyzed man whose mother hires a quirky, naive young woman to be his caretaker.

Director Thea Sharrock ("Call the Midwife"), working with a script from Jojo Moyes (based on her own novel), brings us an extremely attractive and likable young couple confronted by one of life's most perplexing problems: the right to die.

The cast:

  • * Sam Claflin ("The Hunger Games" he's Finnick) is Will Traynor, adamant about his solution to his untenable situation. He just lost his fiancée and is in chronic pain, so the decision wasn't made lightly.
  • * Emilia Clarke ("Game of Thrones" she's Daenerys) is Lou Clark, very sure about many things, but definitely UNsure about Will's "solution." She becomes Will's caretaker because her family needs the money. She and Will have a rocky beginning.
  • * Janet McTeer ("Songcatcher" she's a musicologist!) is Will's mother Camilla, who is opposed to his plan. She hopes having a lively companion will change his mind.
  • * Charles Dance ("Game of Thrones" he's Tywin Lannister) is his wealthy father. Stephen feels obligated to honor Will's decision, even though it causes him anguish.
  • * Brendan Coyle ("Downton Abbey" he's Bates) is Lou's father Bernard. Coyle's characters are unfailingly intelligent, moral and have great insight into the human condition. His advice to his daughter is priceless.

All in all, I appreciate seeing all sides to this controversial issue. (Lou's Catholic mother is particularly adamant and angry.) But what cheered me (AND Will!) was Lou's wardrobe. I'm sure the costume designer had a field day. I won't even TRY to describe the outfits she assembles, you MUST see them to believe them!

There are NO bad guys in this PG-13 romance, instead we have at least eight people to root for! What a refreshing change from the mindless, CGI-laden spectacles to which we recently have been subjected. See this one...

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