45 Years (2015)

Please don't spend money on this.

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Much has been said about the artistry and good acting involved in this film, and it's true.It's the story that's missing. There's about 30 minutes of storytelling in this 95 minute film. I kept watching because I assumed that there would be something at the end that might explain the earlier portions. Sadly, that didn't happen.There is a great deal of imagery that would be quite pleasant to look at on your computer while it's not being used. However, watching it as a feature-length movie is not recommended.

45 Years (2015) Director: Andrew Haigh Watched: April 2018 7/10 Unostentatious, Both Rampling and Courtenay, Performances that Impress with their subtleness. A British couple Leading quaint lives with dog Max, About to honor Their lifetime spent together. While making plans For grand celebration with Family and friends, Unexpectedly meet with Challenge to their love. A letter from Germany, They found her body. Informative in nature, But of course much more, Stirring up old emotions. A husband's past love, More important than once thought. Things he never told, Secrets up in the attic. Engaged and pregnant, So many decades ago. Yet it still matters. A wife's struggle to accept A past betrayal. Enthralling despite slow pace, Humor at right times, Music that strikes the right chord, English countryside Serves as beautiful background, Weather its own role. Double character study, But mostly Rampling, Close-ups on reticent face. Wished for something more From Courtenay's character. Maybe tedious, But that is how real life is. No easy answers, An unsatisfying end. Haigh shows us real life, The fragility of love. He tried in "Weekend", Succeeds with "45 Years". On incompleteness, A perceptive perspective Why history never dies. Choka (long poem) is an epic storytelling form of poetry from the Waka period, an unrhymed poem with the 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7...7 syllable format (any odd number line length with alternating five and seven syllable lines that ends with an extra seven syllable line). #Choka #PoemReview

You have to wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea to transfer this dead-in-the-water book to the big screen. You also have to wonder why two of our most respected actors would have even considered this turkey.We are treated to a glimpse into the banal domestic lives of an old childless couple where nothing ever happens. That is until we hear about something that happened donkey's years ago.Suddenly the wife is consumed by some kind of jealousy and proceeds to wander about aimlessly looking as if she's just been given a diagnosis of imminent death. Her husband staggers about also -- and here Tom Courtney over plays his part of a doddery old geezer, looking more like a recovering stroke victim.And so it goes -- for ninety odd minutes. Nothing happens. Apart that is from the most disturbing sex scenes you will ever see in a film. If you want to see two 70-odd year old people attempting to have sexual intercourse then this film is for you. For the rest of us we reach swiftly for the sick bag.I suppose the director was going for the laid back arty look of continental cinema. The difference is that in those films something usually happens -- and the characters are at least likeable.These two old codgers are totally boring. You do feel like slapping the pair of them.I have great respect for both actors but would love to ask them what they were thinking when they agreed to this sleep inducing snore fest.Avoid at all costs.How anyone who is not being paid to say so considers this a film-of-the-year is beyond me. Those glowing reviews are suspect..... .......

Kate (Charlotte Rampling) is preparing her 45th anniversary party married to Geoff Mercer (Tom Courtenay). They live comfortably childless in rural England. Geoff reveals something about a previous relationship with Katya who died long ago hiking a glacier but the body was only recently discovered. Kate is a little perplexed and struggles to understand the true nature of their relationship.Charlotte Rampling is one of the greatest actresses around. I get the idea of an old couple with a secret. There isn't enough danger or drama for the tension to be truly raised. The major drama should occur after the big discovery. This is a quiet drama with buried emotions. I'm not complaining that nothing happens. It's just that the drama is interior and doesn't amount to that big. If you like quiet character study, this one is for you.