Directed by:
Thea SharrockScreenplay:
Jojo MoyesCinematography:
Remi AdefarasinComposer:
Craig ArmstrongCast:
Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Stephen Peacocke, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, Matthew Lewis, Samantha Spiro, Brendan Coyle, Jenna Coleman, Vanessa Kirby (more)VOD (3)
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Louisa Lou Clark (Clarke) lives in a quaint town in the English countryside. With no clear direction in her life, the quirky and creative 26-year-old goes from one job to the next in order to help her tight-knit family make ends meet. Her normally cheery outlook is put to the test, however, when she faces her newest career challenge. Taking a job at the local castle, she becomes caregiver and companion to Will Traynor (Claflin), a wealthy young banker who became wheelchair bound in an accident two years prior, and whose whole world changed dramatically in the blink of an eye. No longer the adventurous soul he once was, the now cynical Will has all but given up. That is until Lou determines to show him that life is worth living. Embarking together on a series of adventures, both Lou and Will get more than they bargained for, and find their lives - and hearts - changing in ways neither one could have imagined. (Warner Bros. US)
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Reviews (10)
I can’t believe I’m actually saying this but Me Before You is an excellent movie. At first, it all feels incredibly artificial and a little boring thanks to Clarke’s goofiness and Claflin's bored expressions, but don't judge by first impressions. It actually ends up being an incredibly feel-good movie filled with both happy and sad emotions. The behavior of the characters gradually becomes less affected and more relaxed, and especially the goofy Clarke turns into the most likeable clumsy thing with an absolutely amazing laugh (I'm really skeptical about its potential dubbing which will inevitably erase her original personality which is the core of the movie). In spite of the similar topic, I’d rather not compare this to The Intouchables, because nothing as funny and true at the same time will probably ever be filmed again. Although the theme may discourage a lot of people, if you’re in the right mood for it, Me Before You will find its fans not only among female viewers. So, I'm probably giving this the most exaggerated rating of the year, but sometimes the movie just sits so well with you that you can’t help but rate it up, perhaps even for its great soundtrack.
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The books by Jojo Moyes all present themselves as significant bestseller events. They have a unified design and are very popular. Unfortunately, they are just empty kitsch, similar to Nicholas Sparks and a million others. The film adaptation doesn't offer much either, just depicting typical tear-jerking situations. If I am to be moved, I prefer it to be by a quality film; for example, Guzaarish is one such option.
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I was a bit afraid it would be simplistic, too straightforward, and indeed at times it feels a bit too naive, but both main actors give it the right touch. Emilia is truly enchanting. Moreover, the film doesn't end unnecessarily romantically, although it's still beautiful. But that's life, beautiful and cruel.
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It's stumbles at times, but it cracks you up and can make you cry. Surprisingly, it wasn't as superficial as I thought it would be. Absolutely all of the characters in the film tried to live as best they could as best they could (even if it might have meant death in one case). It was good to watch, it moved along quite nicely, and I liked the music because it was so familiar. No one was exaggerated into caricature. A simple story about love and how it's good to live if you can live. 75%.
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Me Before You is a film that is in many ways different from other romantic dramas, yet it uses elements that have appeared in other films similar to it. You could feel a touch of The Intouchables through the quadriplegia, but its French predecessor played more on a humorous note, whereas here it was more about developing a relationship between diametrically opposed characters and coming to terms with a cruel fate. The cast was supremely likeable, although I did wonder at times if Emilia Clarke's wavy eyebrows were serious, but I did get a satisfying explanation at the end of the film. I liked the casting of Matthew Lewis, who managed to break out of his role as Neville from Harry Potter. I was also impressed with the soundtrack, especially the songs “Not Today” and “Unsteady”. All in all, a nicely made film set in the beautiful surroundings of England and offering a nice story that may be corny on one level, but still makes you want to watch it and get carried away by the slightly naive and cutely delivered script.
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