A Class act!

45 Years

beta endorphin

Almost anyone, whether married or not, who was an adult 45 years ago can relate to this profoundly, intelligent film. During the week leading up to their 45th wedding anniversary party, Geoff (Tom Courtenay) and Kate (Charlotte Rampling), both independently process an event that happened in Geoff's life before they were married. On Monday he receives a letter reminding them of this tragic event in his life. Even though it took place before Kate knew Geoff, she becomes emotionally distraught as she witnesses how it affects Geoff's normal routine. Each day of the week is presented as daily, short vignettes within the film, evenly pacing the buildup to their anniversary party on Saturday. So each day Kate discovers more about this event through her own detective work. These subtle discoveries are major revelations for her and us thanks to the pacing by writer/director, Andrew Haigh, and the superb acting by Rampling and Courtenay who perform as though they really have been married for 45 years.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful moment on Oscar night if Charlotte Rampling came out a winner? Even though Saoirse Ronan for BROOKLYN and Brie Larson for ROOM also deserve to be winners, I think it would be a great way to celebrate an actress who has really come into her own in the last 15 years or so. What a class act!

Spoiler alert: In a year of violent, headlining films; such as, MAD MAX, THE REVENANT and HATEFUL EIGHT, all of which I must admit I really enjoyed, it is refreshing to know that films like 45 YEARS, ROOM and BROOKLYN can still be made even though they will not be box office blockbusters. To me, hearing Tom Courtenay explain in detail how his pregnant lover tragically died, is more evocative than the images of "Mad" Max escaping his twisted, obsessed pursuers or DiCaprio's Hugh Glass returning from a near-death experience.