Customer Reviews

When Did You Last See Your Father?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Based on an autobiographical memoir by Blake Morrison WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? is a finely wrought exploration into the delicate issues that both separate and bind fathers and sons. It is difficult for viewers whose fathers are gone not to relate to the profound tenderness and at times difficult reminiscences of their own relationships that remain as both warm and haunting dreams. David Nicholls' adaptation of Morrison's book stresses the character development of both father and son (and the rest of this British family) allowing us to understand the dilemma that faces the main character as he is asked the question that forms the title of this film.

Blake Morrison (Colin Firth) is happily married to Kathy (Gina McKee) and is a successful writer/poet who is preparing to receive an award for his contributions to literature. Present at his ceremony is his father Dr. Arthur Morrison (Jim Broadbent) who is a unique egomaniac whose personality traits affect everyone around him - both positively and negatively. After Blake's acceptance speech his father cannot even manage to say 'well done', instead furthers his comments about Blake's silly decision not to go into medicine and strive instead for the poor life of a writer. A medical emergency tosses Arthur into the hospital, he is diagnosed with terminal cancer: the remainder of the film is a series of vignettes of Blake at his father's bedside accompanied by his mother Kim (Juliet Stephenson) coupled with flashbacks to Blake's childhood (Matthew Beard plays Blake as a teenager) memories that contain moments of confusing father/son incidents as well as Blake's long standing loathing of his fathers affairs with other women such as 'Aunt Beaty' (Sarah Lancashire) and others. As Arthur falls more deeply toward dying, Blake attempts to confront his father with his lifelong perceptions and grievances and the manner in which Blake comes to grips with his feelings for his father completes this film.

Director Anand Tucker orchestrates this story beautifully, blending the gorgeous English countryside with just the right timing between momentary flashbacks and flash forwards to make this film flow and glow with nostalgia. The musical score by Barrington Pheloung wisely incorporates a lovely rendition of Bellini's 'Casta diva' from 'Norma', Bach's G Minor Piano Concerto, and a Schubert trio, which add a timeless dimension to the mood of the film. Jim Broadbent brings off this challenging role with great artistry, as does Colin Firth with his role as Blake. But then the entire cast is well selected from some of England's finest actors. This is an emotional film, a film that will touch men especially, but will also bring resonance with women. Grady Harp, November 08

Based on a true story from Blake Morrison's autobiographical account of his relationship with his father, When Did You Last See Your Father? becomes a near-tear jerker in the final act. It's a gorgeously shot film that never calls itself out, as the film is subdued and restrained in its approach. Even with rain and mist, the English country sides have never looked prettier.

Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent are superb as the film's anchors. Broadbent's playfulness as the father is offset by Firth's turn as the son, who is introvert and a bit stuffy. The film balances scenes with them, with scenes of Blake as a by growing up. Blake's misunderstanding of his father is played out in a kaleidoscope of memories.

I like the film a lot; with the way it handles how the son never fully understands his father. Through his eyes, he is bold and silly, forcing him into situations he'd rather not be in, like camping or embarrassing him when he's with a girl. The film feels too much like a series of scenes that are only strung together by the appearance of Blake and his father. It isn't until the middle section when it starts to come together in a sad but intelligent way.

His father is quickly dying from cancer and seeing him weak and immobile, Blake asks if he can have one good talk with him soon. He agrees. Will Blake ever have it and settle the issues he has with his father? The film tackles haunting subjects and re-examines the film's title in an interesting way. When was the last time Blake (or us) really seen our father? Was it at the funeral or his sick bed? These questions are answered and are quite emotionally charged.

Even memories are examined again as the director uses some interesting angles captured within mirrors, crafting subtle ways in which to view things from different points of view. When Did You Last See Your Father? is a gripping, soft, subdued film, worthy of your time if you are looking for a well-made drama that isn't afraid of exposing truths within its characters or even perhaps within yourself.

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We saw director Anand Tucker's upcoming release "When Did You Last See Your Father?" earlier this spring at Dallas' 'AFI 08' film festival. Tom McCarthy's The Visitor was our favorite out of the eight films we were able to see, but Tucker's latest was a close second. The caveat here is that my wife and I would pay to watch Colin Firth read a phone book. He turns in an especially Firthian performance here, one in which he's forced to deal - with more than a bit of ambivalence - with a dying father (excellent performance by Jim Broadbent). And, my friends, Colin Firth owns ambivalence.

That "we'd watch Colin Firth in anything" statement really isn't fair to director Tucker. His body of work is strong - he did an outstanding job with Steve Martin's Shopgirl, and his effort previous to that - Hilary & Jackie - is a personal favorite and a very underrated film.

One bit of a casting quibble on my part: why is the 51-year-old, still gorgeous Juliet Stevenson playing mother to the 48-year-old, looks-every-bit-his-age Colin Firth? How can you take someone who indelibly played the mother of a 17-year-old Keira Knightley in 2002's Bend It Like Beckham (Full Screen Edition), then turn around and expect us to swallow her as the mother to a 48-year-old only five years later? The whole time those two were on the screen together I was thinking: ummm, Anand? They're the SAME AGE, dude.

Having recently lost my father, I hoped that this film would help me to look into our relationship, to grieve, to let my feelings come to the fore in private, for myself beyond the (very helpful) rituals we have of letting go. Although the film relationship was of course very different from the one I had with my father, it brilliantly addresses the universal issues between fathers and sons: there are so many memories - of fun, perceived slights, love, and anger - that swirl in the mind for the rest of the son's life. The son, Blake, has questions he wants to resolve, yet they can't really talk about them, even as his father lies on his deathbed. Blake struggles with disappointment in his charming and manipulative father, whose flaws and strengths, whose caring and occasional carelessness, remain present in his imagination every single day, with the specificity of recall you would expect of a poet. It is so primal in love, so raw in striving and competition, as the son takes his own path and the father is left behind yet still living within him.

The father's last days are also portrayed with painful intimacy. Unless one has experienced it, it is hard to comprehend what it is like to watch a parent slip away as the body fails, yet this film portrays it with realism and empathy, with fabulously nuanced acting.

You see the father as a great spirit, as a selfish jerk, as a charmer of "other" women, as a joker indulgent of his son's desires, as the only person who can give certain things, as full of his own needs yet caring. It is funny, sad, enraging, and loving all at the same time. These emotions washed over me as I watched this film, truly a cathartic experience that reduced me at times to tears.

This is a mature film, a masterpiece that approaches the complexity of life. Blake too is a flawed character, though his life is more or less on track. THe film ends with a wonderfully ambiguous optimism, summing up the exasperation and love all at the same moment. The mother is also subtly present, though not at the center of the story. In my view, the balance was right.

Warmly recommended. But do not expect a comedy - it is painful and uplifting realism at its best.

I see that a reviewer believed that Colin Firth was trying to be Hugh Grant. I can almost detect why they would feel that way. This is a complex film with multiple time frames, and sometimes it seems that Firth is grasping to get just the right emotion, whereas Jim Broadbent, who plays his not so faithful dad, pulls it off effortlessly. The best supporting actor, however, goes to Matthew Beard who plays Firth's character as a teen. Look for him in the future.
As for the film, it is one of those movies that will touch you if you had a father that you always wanted to talk to but never had the opportunity, for whatever reason. Tear jerker for some, blank stares from others, depending on who you are. It's just one of those movies.

Very touching film about complex father son relationship. When father is diagnosed with cancer, his son goes through a flashback of the events from his early adolescence that explains the strained relationship between father and son. Father had a greater than life personality, while son was more introverted and emotional. Long time ago indiscretions commited by the father seem irreconcilable to the son. His attempt to get answers is impeded by the terrible sickness that seems to take over the situation.

It is a touching story about parent child relationship. It is also a story about grief and the fact that sometimes we would rather have our parents around so we can hate them then loose them to death and life long sorrow for not being able to have them around ourselves except in our memories.

Wonderful cast of very fine British actors. Fantastic story about one very special father one would love to have around no matter what.

Jim Broadbent is one of our greatest living actors and he is incapable of giving a bad performance. This is a difficult role for him, since the character he plays is radically flawed and not particularly likeable. The story concerns his son's attempts to reconnect with him as he approaches death. It is told in flashbacks and it is touching in moments and beautifully filmed throughout. The problem is that it lacks a clear structure, a plot arc that successfully shapes the action and effects an emotional and intellectual response. With such an arc, each scene advances the action and multiplies its impact. Here the story meanders and the emotional interplay of the characters fails to reach a satisfactory, layered conclusion. As some of the Amazon reviewers have noted, the film will not lack an audience because many would watch Colin Firth reading the phone book. I don't think one should miss any performance by Broadbent, but to see him at the absolute top of his form, see Topsy-Turvy. Firth is an actor with more range than some give him credit for; see him in the very interesting film, The Advocate.

Colin Furth and Jim Broadbent are wonderful actors. This movie is painful as relations between child and parents frequently are. Question is whether the good times outweigh the bad. Blake's father was abusive. Not physically but verbally and that can be almost as bad. I think he was more forgiving of his father at the end than I would have been.

While watching this film I was reminded of a film from the seventies with Gene Hackman and Melvyn Douglas which was based on a stage play of the same name, "I Never Sang for My Father," about a son coming to care for his miserable, abusive elderly father whose wife had just died. Another heartbreaking film about sons and fathers and the responsibilities of children to their sometimes abusive parents.

Both pictures leave food for thought.

What a wonderful movie! Seeing it, many of us will remember how we just hated our fathers for no good reasons, to find out that we miss them so much after they passed away. The performance of Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent is so genuine, that one will easiliy forget that they are just actors rendering to screen Blake Morrison's contradicting feelings about his father.

When Did You Last See Your Father, tear jerker supreme. The movie plods along very slowly. So slowly that you actually can go off, make an onion and sugar sandwich, come back and not miss anything. It's a very predictable film, you know the father played by Jim Broadbent is going to die. The flashbacks are interspersed just about where you would expect.

It's all very neat and tidy. But there's kind of a rub with the film. Somehow we hear that Blake, played by Colin Firth, doesn't like his father. Actually hadn't spoken to him in a very long time. And we see these loving, beautiful flashbacks with his father being a very good father - spending time with his son. So I definately didn't buy this dislike. Just couldn't put myself in those shoes of distance.

Was it the supposed or imagined affair his father had that made Blake hate his father. In the end, we don't really ever know. Blake never gets confirmation that his father really had an affair. We also have to imagine, did Blake really sleep with his first love near the end of the film? So father and son, not so different.

I give the film 3 stars because, well I fell for the ending. It actually ressurected a slow movie. There's a few twists at the end and the real question Blake asks himself, when did you last see your father, is answered rather beautifully.

The DVD has 8 minutes of deleted scenes. And they are deleted for a good reason. The last deleted scene is particularly bad.

The performances by Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent are wonderful - they also bring the rating up. The filming is gorgeous. The landscapes never looked more beautiful. The sound was just passable, nothing good or really bad about it (and that is a bit of a problem). And I loved the cars in this film - the opening sequence at the race track in the 50's, that silver convertible, and the supporting cast of cars.

If you are ready for a good cry, rent this film. And that sandwich reference is in the deleted scenes.