Director: John Madden
Cast: Dame Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel
Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1412386/
A group of English retirees spurn the advances of a subdued, beige infused British retirement, and choose to see out their final days in the rich tapestry of life in modern India. Each member of the group has their own back story, which acts as the necessary prod in the back required to make such a decision. It’s the interplay of these stories, both with one another and with the vibrant life of the subcontinent, that inevitably provides the flesh of the movie.
Each member of the cast is on top form here. Dame Judie Dench is, for me one of the linchpins of the film, but each of the characters are acted with pitch perfect depth, which ultimately results in an engaging experience that will keep you tense in the serious moments and filled with a sincere joy when things come together. Bill Nighy was a pleasant surprise, using the quality timing and delivery that have made him such a prominent romcom fixture in recent times, to provide a genuinely believable performance as a man beginning to show the true colours of an inner turmoil that has been quietly repressed. Dev Patel continues to shine as an actor, showing he can play a more light hearted role than he did in Slumdog Millionaire, and Maggie Smith is a pure delight to watch.
I give it 8/10. If your kind of thing as an engaging and heartwarming story, that mingles top tier acting with a deep and engrossing plot, then this is undoubtedly one to watch. If you air more on the side of big budget blockbusters with bell and whistles on, then it’s probably not worth the money.
The Futon Critic 