The Sense of an Ending

First Hit:  Somewhat slow, subtle, and insightful film about someone coming to grips with things as they are and not what he thought they were.

I didn’t mind that this British film plodded along because its plodding was even and unfolded the character and the past of Tony Webster (Jim Broadbent) in a thoughtful and realistic way.

Tony is a quiet grumpy (“curmudgeon” according to his daughter) retired old man. His best friend is his divorced wife Margaret (Harriet Walter). He’s a retired professor, but owns and works at a very small antique camera business. He receives a registered letter one day that tells him that his first college girlfriend Veronica’s (Freya Mavor as young Veronica and Charlotte Rampling as the older Veronica) mother, Sarah (Emily Mortimer), left him a diary by his old college friend Adrian Finn (Joe Alwyn).

Curious, he goes to the solicitor’s (lawyer) office to collect the diary, however he’s told that Veronica still has it and isn’t giving it up to Tony. This prompts him to discuss his university story to his former wife, who sees through the surface representation and tells him, come back and tell me the real and in-depth story.

The film is about this slow unfolding of his reconciliation of his actions as a student. To assist the story, his daughter Susie (Michelle Dockery) is pregnant and having a baby, which is used to enhance Tony’s inability to connect at an emotional empathetic level to the possibilities of what happened a long time ago.

To tell the story the film goes back and forth in time often to explore his relationship with Veronica, her mom, Adrian, and his other close friends. It takes a bit of getting use to because the segues between the two time periods are not always matched.

Broadbent was perfect for this role. He’s got the look and the acting ability to make me believe he was learning about his whole life through the story of the film. Being an occasional curmudgeon myself, I got why he asked the questions he did and the way he isolated himself. Walter was wonderful as his understanding and caring ex-wife. Mavor was interesting as young Veronica but it was Rampling as the older Veronica who really put the right flavor on his growing up, so-of-speak. Mortimer was really strong in her brief but impactful role. Alwyn was OK as Tony’s friend. Dockery was wonderful as Tony’s daughter. I liked their interaction and was touched by his being with her during the birth of her baby. Nick Payne did a wonderful job of creating a script that unfolded slowly. Ritesh Batra did a good job of letting the dialog unfold the scenes.

Overall:  This was enjoyable to me, but I can see why it may not be enjoyable to others.

Harry Brown

First Hit: This is a strong gritty film and Caine is superb.

This film is rough and dark showing a gritty side of England. The Estate is a housing project that is now home for the very poor, drug dealers and thugs.

Harry Brown (played by Michael Caine) has been living there for many years and he’s seen The Estate change. His daughter died early in his life and his wife is near death in the hospital. His close and maybe only friend is Leonard Attwell (played by David Bradley). They drink a little at the pub and play chess.

Harry's wife dies and Leonard has been threatened by the bullies living in The Estate. Leonard has finally had it and decides he wants retaliate. He asks Harry for assistance but Harry resists.

One night, Leonard is smoked out of his house and he decides to go after the culprits with a bayonet. He, being very old, loses the battle and is stabbed with his own weapon. Harry learns of Leonard's death when Detective Inspector Alice Frampton (played by Emily Mortimer) comes over to his house and tells him.

Harry has nothing left to live for and decides to take matters into his own hands and starts by buying a gun from Stretch (played by Sean Harris). Harry becomes a vigilante killer of the men who are making The Estate a haven for the abusing young people.

Caine is tremendous as Harry Brown. He shows strength, vulnerability and a depth of character that drips from the screen. Attwell is very good as a frightened old man who has had enough of the harassment but has no skills in backing up his intent to hurt the people who are ruining his life. Mortimer is good as the Inspector who understands what is going on but is held back by her superior. Harris is absolutely amazing as a drug addled dealer who lives only for the next hit; a truly incredible performance. Daniel Barber shot this film with the right color and mood.

Overall: This is a strong film and well worth the price of admission.