Away from Her (2007)

Simply Perfect

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Julie Christie's performance should have won her the Oscar, despite the strong competition at the Academy Awards that year. She was vulnerable, she was understated when need be, and she was relate-able. Gordon Pinsent was equally strong and we felt for both of their characters and were on their sides. Sarah Polley had depth beyond her years, and an understanding of a topic that should have been taken on by an older more experienced director (I am the same age as Polley). Had that happened, we wouldn't have had the strong performances, brought on by Polley's direction, nor would the film been as touching and realistic. Cudo's to the producers for believing in her vision and allowing her to take the helm. This could have been a Bergman film, it works on so many levels and really stays with the viewer.

This film could have deserved the high ratings it has received, but I think those ratings are based on the emotional factor of this film which, I agree, is high, hence my giving it 5 stars. However, there are several things lacking in this movie which took away the other 5 stars. Some things are just too unrealistic:There seems to be no friends or family of the main characters * The head nurse seems to have all the time in the world and never seems to be doing anything * The husband doesn't call police or even seem upset when his wife takes off on skis and goes missing. * There are no family pictures or music or any effort at all to remind the wife of who she is. The husband is totally unhelpful in this regard. Once he grabs her by the shoulders and tells her who he is, but otherwise is just too calm and too removed.If they would have added some elements of realism to this scenario, it would have been a lovely movie.

The last thing I expected Away From Her to be is funny. The first section of the film has a remarkable sense of humour which really doesn't prepare you for the utterly heart-wrenching mid-section. It's truly painful to watch our protagonist watches his wife not only not recognise him but fall in love with another man. The performances make the film, Gordon Pisent is terrific but Julie Christie is astounding. However, the plot does drift a bit too often. There was far too many conversation scenes and not enough doing in the scenes that didn't involve Pisent and Christie. But it's a wise film that feels old yet spirited at heart. Unforgettable stuff.8/10

I read the description of this film, and it sounded like a worthwhile weepy kind of film, I was hoping it would be, and that the actress playing the part would do what was involved well, from debut directing actress Sarah Polley (Dawn of the Dead). Basically the Andersons, Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar and BAFTA nominated Julie Christie) have been married for forty-four years, and they have been generally happy and loving even with Grant's working as a college professor. Then things change when Fiona develops many lapses of memory, she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and is admitted into the long term care facility Meadowlake near their home in southern western Ontario. Grant visits very often, and feels sad that she does not know who he is anymore, but also he sees many other families affected by similar cases. He talks a lot to one of the women who also often visits the home, wife of one of the patients, Marian Barque (Moonstruck's Olympia Dukakis) who watches over her semi-comatose husband Aubrey (Michael Murphy). Aubrey and Fiona have struck up a friendship while in the home, but as time goes by Grant is sure that they are becoming much more than just friends, and the situation is worse with her not knowing their past. In the end, Grant and Marian agree that because their other halves can't communicated with them like they used to, they should continue seeing them and let them go on their new paths. Also starring Kristen Thomson as Kristy, Wendy Crewson as Madeleine Montpellier, Alberta Watson as Dr. Fischer and Deanna Dezmari as Veronica. Christie is of course fantastic at being the sympathetic patient unintentionally creating tragedy, but I agree that Pinsent is crucial as the husband who has to sit back and watch the events unfold, it is poignant, it is dignified and it is emotional, a most watchable relationship drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published. Julie Christie was number 91 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, and she was number 24 on The 50 Greatest British Actresses. Very good!