A slow-burning drama about three students who learn that their lives aren’t what they expect them to be, Never Let Me Go will leave a lasting impression.
There are some movies that I watch because I’ve seen the cast. I like to know next to nothing about a film before I view it – particularly if I’ve never heard of it before – so the only thing to go off of is the cast or the movie poster. And if you’re going to tell me that there’s a film from 15 years ago starring Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, and Keira Knightly that I haven’t seen, well, it’s about time I did.
Never Let Me Go is about three students who meet at a boarding school for orphans. They have clearly grown up together and the school has strict rules about allowing the kids off of the property. There are regular checkups and little conveniences, but they are brought up to be healthy and ready for whatever comes next. As young adults, Tommy, Ruth, and Kathy H move to a house with other people of the same age to explore the next stages.
This is the type of drama that you want to go into while knowing very little about it. It is set in the dystopian future, and part of the impact of the piece is how the developing knowledge plays out for both you and the characters.
Based on a book of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro, I found the movie incredibly intriguing. The tone is somber and melancholy, but often very thoughtful. What would it be like if the world saw you not for who you are, but as a vehicle for helping them? Would it make the relationships with others like you stronger because you see each other as people with depth, hopes, and dreams? I think it would.
I loved Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan in this movie. Andrew Garfield has a way of adding a little something extra to every character he plays, down to little hops off of a street curb or facial movements. It reminds me every time why he is such a respected performer, and Mulligan is his equal. Her quiet thoughts and reservations come through in her eyes, and the quietness of this performance is beautiful.
This was not my favorite Kiera Knightly vehicle, although one could argue that the character isn’t particularly forgiving. There is something slightly stunted about this performance for me, though, and I found her much stronger in films like Pride & Prejudice and even Bend It Like Beckham.
I really enjoyed Never Let Me Go, and it is the kind of movie that you will find yourself thinking about long after it is over. It is also a book that I plan to purchase, because if I got this much from the movie, I can only imagine what the novel is like.
Runtime: 103 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: Free on Hulu, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
There are some movies that I watch because I’ve seen the cast. I like to know next to nothing about a film before I view it – particularly if I’ve never heard of it before – so the only thing to go off of is the cast or the movie poster. And if you’re going to tell me that there’s a film from 15 years ago starring Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, and Keira Knightly that I haven’t seen, well, it’s about time I did.
