Never Let Me Go

Undoubtedly a considerable improvement over Kazuo Ishiguro’s nigh unreadable novel, Never Let Me Go follows three friends (Carey Mulligan’s Kathy, Keira Knightley’s Ruth, and Andrew Garfield’s Tommy) as they attempt to deal with their respective fates (which have been set in stone since birth). Director Mark Romanek has infused Never Let Me Go with a striking, downright meticulous sense of style that proves effective at initially capturing the viewer’s interest, with the impressively (and fully) realized atmosphere heightened by the uniformly stirring performances (Garfield is especially strong here). The film’s unapologetically deliberate pace is ultimately the most overtly problematic element within the proceedings, as the thin narrative unfolds at a speed that some viewers might find oppressive (but to be fair, the novel was a far, far worse offender of this). It’s also worth noting that the entirely illogical nature of the book’s premise is just as troublesome here, and there’s little doubt that one’s enjoyment of the movie is directly related to one’s ability to overlook the characters’ stubborn refusal to rebel against their situation (ie there’s not a single person in this universe who has ever tried to escape?) Once you get past that aspect of the story, however, Never Let Me Go admittedly does become an engaging and frequently moving drama that’s sure to provoke post-movie arguments among viewers.

*** out of ****