UK Edition
Feeds
Screenwriters: Peter Harness
Starring: Sir Michael Caine (interview), Bill Milner, David Morrissey, Anne-Marie Duff
Running time: 94 mins
Certificate: 12A
A touching tale of an increasingly senile magician's relationship with a morbid young boy, Is Anybody There? conjures up a winning concoction of laughs, tears and '80s nostalgia. Above all, it showcases the breadth of British acting talent, with Sir Michael Caine and Bill Milner delivering exceptional leading performances.
Set in a gloomy seaside town in the 1980s, the story initially follows 10-year-old Edward (Milner) as he copes with life in an old people's nursing home run by his troubled parents. Obsessed with the afterlife, Edward secretly records the elderly residents while they sleep in case they pass away, in a bid to capture any supernatural sounds. The arrival of retired magician Clarence (Caine) soon changes his outlook on life, while the wand-wielding old pro is forced to confront the past. But can Clarence gain any closure before slipping away?
The relationship between these two well-defined characters dominates the movie, with the old man and boy both teaching each other valuable lessons in life. There's a real sense of growth and development in their personalities courtesy of Peter Harness's script. It superbly captures this odd couple and is peppered full of neatly observed dialogue that fluctuates between witty and emotive.
Don't think this is a case of Clarence sitting Edward on his lap while feeding him Werther's Originals though, for a dark and tragic streak runs throughout, as Clarence rues his inability to turn back time and mopes around, sometimes teary-eyed, spluttering out lines like "You accumulate regrets and they stick to you like old bruises". Edward, meanwhile, may look like a cute kid but he's capable of plenty of spiteful acts, including chucking rocks at old folks and setting off fire alarms.
Their journey together is fraught and challenging, especially when Clarence drags up the harrowing split from his beloved life, but ultimately it all feels very rewarding for the audience once we've emotionally invested in their lives. Caine and Milner ensure that it's easy to do just that, as both turn in compelling performances. At ease with each other, their interaction is bolstered by the deep regret lurking in Caine's eyes, set off against the wondrous gaze of Milner's adventurous boy.
A fine supporting cast add plenty of qualities to the movie, especially in the case of Leslie Phillips's old codger with a penchant for telling smutty jokes in the wrong company. Anne-Marie Duff is very sympathetic as Edward's hard-working mother, while David Morrissey does wonders as the child's father who has a mid-life crisis to contend with. The range of '80s hairstyles he sports at various times, to impress a young co-worker, not only capture a sense of nostalgia for the time period but also add to the visual humour on display. The mullet and 'tache gags are certainly a contrast to some of the more macabre examples, which include Clarence accidentally chopping off a body part during an attempted magic comeback.
In less capable hands, such an unusual story could have been a gross misfire. Thankfully, John Crowley's unobtrusive direction allows Caine and Milner to shine and capitalise on their meaty characters. The story keeps us guessing too, with one particular eye-opening moment towards the end that is particularly effective. If there's any justice, plenty of people will be there for this moving and life-affirming film about death.
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