A Long Way Down (2014)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Director: Pascal Chaumeil
Writer: Nick Hornby (novel) Jack Thorne (Screenplay)
Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Aaron Paul, Imogen Poots

My Rating: 7/10

A comedy about suicide, how does that work ?
Actually surprisingly well; this screenplay adapted from the successful novel by Nick Hornby who gave us About a Boy tells of four very different people who all go to the same rooftop on New Years Eve to commit suicide. As it turns out, it is not as easy to go through with as they think. They become a somewhat makeshift family, supporting each other until Valentine's Day having made a pact not to attempt to kill themselves again until this date. A very unconventional idea about an extremely touchy subject. Not something you would think you could ever laugh at, but there are moments (and plenty of them) in which you will find yourself roaring with laughter.

The four main characters could not be more different from each other and that I feel is what makes this story so interesting, they are not people you would ordinarily put together. Somehow through many difficult and awkward circumstances and discussions they come to mean something to each other. Pierce Brosnan plays Martin Sharp a disgraced Morning Breakfast Show host who slept with an under-age girl, went to prison for it and consequently lost his job, his wife and his family because of it, He is at the end of his rope feeling a constant humiliation. Toni Collette (here a reserved version of herself) plays Maureen a middle-aged, straight-laced women without a bad bone in her body. She is a struggling single mother with a handicapped son who seems to have lost the motivation to live. Imogen Poots is Jess Crichton, a young politicians daughter with many dark family issues of which she is struggling to come to terms. Poots makes this film, it is her performance that stands out above all others and she is so funny. Jess is a dramatic, loud, out of control young girl who says whatever comes into her head, and usually it is something awkward and extremely blunt. Most of which you know you should not laugh at because it is wildly inappropriate but you just can't help yourself. Aaron Paul coming off the success of Breaking Bad  is J.J. a struggling American musician whose reason for such a dramatic end is somewhat unclear.

It is J.J. we learn who has the more pressing psychological issues. The other 3 characters seem to come to the very final decision of suicide matter of factly; almost like oh well what else is there to do. Their problems are somewhat sugar-coated as is the issue of suicide itself. But J.J. is a more complex character than the others and it is discovering more about him that keeps audience interest throughout the film. The characters are in many cases quite under-developed, we never get down to the real gritty reality of their problems, all except Paul's character who in the final quarter of the film is revealed to have a serious lack of will to live (for reasons see the film - no spoilers here).

Pierce Brosnan is a very underrated actor I feel, and recently he is coming back in to fashion so to speak. He has many films on his slate for the next 2 years and has been very busy for the past 2. It is great to see him tackle a character who is frankly not very likeable, he is selfish and unkind and very unwilling at first to take any part in the lives of those around him. Toni Collette gives a very quiet and reserved performance as Maureen but when she does stand up and say something it is meaningful and heartfelt. She also has a quiet wit in the film, a simple humour that battles Poots outgoing brash humour. Imogen Poots is quite obviously a rising star having starred opposite Zac Efron in That Awkward Moment (2014) and worked again with Paul in the car action-er Need For Speed (2014) she is well on her way to becoming a household name. This film will certainly gain her plenty of new fans. As for Aaron Paul he is leaving behind Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman for which he has garnered tremendous critical acclaim. He is stepping onto the silver screen and so far he is holding his weight. With Need For Speed getting the petrol heads excited his next film Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) the swords and sandals epic opposite Christian Bale and Directed by Ridley Scott set to be released at christmas will surely prove to audiences this is a man to watch.

The ending of A Long Way Down is very predictable and the film as a whole is not what it could be according to most critics, professional and otherwise. I don't think the subject of suicide is handled quite right, however this film could be a method of getting people to open up and discuss the topic more. That in itself is a very important reason to see this film and appreciate it for what it is. At the end of the day it is an easy, funny take on a very interesting concept. I'd watch it just for that.