REVIEW: Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go

Director: Mark Romanek

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.

One of the most anticipated releases of the year comes in the form of Mark Romanek's Oscar-tipped drama Never Let Me Go. Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, which was called the book of the decade by Time, it follows three children at a seemingly idyllic boarding school as they grow up.

Despite the hype that surrounded it prior to its release, Never Let Me Go is a monumental disappointment. Not because it's necessarily an awful movie, but because it could have been something thought-provoking, moving and very beautiful in the hands of a more talented director.

Romanek, whose last effort behind the camera was One Hour Photo, handles the romance of the story very well, making the relationships between the three main characters at once engaging and touching. However, as the story begins to introduce elements of science-fiction, the narrative spins completely out of control. Because it's filmed in such an elegant and gracious style, the themes of cloning and 'donations' just scream of falsehood as they are woven into the story. In fact, there are moments when they are completely absurd.

Similarly, screenwriter Alex Garland doesn't do Never Let Me Go any favours either. Though his characterisations of Cathy, Ruth and Tommy are very impressive and he does a good job of exploring the effects that an isolated life has had on them, the aforementioned moments in which "modelling" or "souls" are discussed just don't mix comfortably with the rest of the narrative.

It's strange that something so little can have such an effect on one's enjoyment of the movie, but it really does and it makes the three outstanding performances by Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightly feel wasted. Mulligan, in particular, gives one of the finest turns by an actress this year with a haunting and powerful role here.

Watching as the three characters grow up from their days in Hailsham into early adulthood is just about enough to keep you watching to the end, but Never Let Me Go remains a huge let down.

3/5

By Daniel Sarath with No comments