Many film critics have been cavalier about spilling the secrets of Never Let Me Go in their reviews. If you prefer to know as little as possible about a film before going in, then I will issue a minor spoiler alert.
Never Let Me Go is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, the author of Remains of the Day, which was adapted for the screen by Merchant-Ivory. For all intents and purposes, Never Let Me Go appears to be your typical British melodrama, but there are little things throughout the picture that just aren't right.
The film begins in the late-70's at a boarding school called Hailsham. The lead characters are best friends Kathy H. (Izzy Meikle-Small) and Ruth (Ella Purnell) and the temperamental Tommy (Charlie Rowe). Tommy is alternately painfully shy and a ball of rage. He screams to the heavens when he isn't picked for a soccer game. It's clear that Kathy is in love with Tommy, but it is Ruth who nets the boy.
The school itself emphasizes art above all other courses of study. Students are encouraged to submit their works (paintings, poetry, etc.) for the chance to be displayed in a gallery in the city. The headmistress, Miss Emily (Charlotte Rampling), encourages the children to stay as healthy as possible. Check-ups with the medical staff are regular occurrences. The children all wear electronic wristbands that are swiped whenever they enter or exit the school. They are told gruesome horror stories about what happened to children who leave the school grounds. Excitement grows when a delivery of goods arrives at Hailsham. The children fawn over an assortment of knick knacks that is clearly a collection of discarded junk, like broken toys and worn down pens. A sympathetic teacher (Sally Hawkins) tearfully confesses that they're lives are predetermined and they will never be astronauts or actors in America. The students learn soon after that she has been dismissed.
The movie jumps to the 80's where Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy have grown up to become Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield. The trio has graduated Hailsham and now resides in the Cottages, a countryside farm for former students. They make awkward attempts to acclimate themselves to their surroundings as the love triangle drives a wedge in their friendship.
Director Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) has fashioned a picture that is the epitome of awards fodder. His direction is skillful and the film is peppered with gorgeous shots that speak simultaneously to the beauty and loneliness of life. Colors have been muted into a drab world of gray tones. Screenwriter Alex Garland (28 Days Later) never draws attention to what makes this world different from ours. There is no sudden M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist at the end. Instead, he weaves the elements into fabric of the narrative. This strange way of life that the characters lead has become a crucial component of their society. It speaks volumes that Kathy or Tommy never try to escape their fates. For them, this is what life is supposed to be.
Despite the weighty subject matter, Never Let Me Go fails to achieve a deeper resonance. This is partly due to the almost mechanical way in which the source material was adapted. As Kathy, Mulligan provides the occasional voiceover to explain events and share her thoughts. In a novel, the author can get away with it. In a film, the director and screenwriter cannot. It becomes a superfluous storytelling device that ruins the subtle moments seen on screen.
Never Let Me Go is essentially the Merchant-Ivory version of Logan's Run. It is a beautiful looking film with superb performances, especially from Mulligan and Garfield, who has been on a roll following Red Riding Trilogy and The Social Network. However, it just feels like Romanek is going through all the motions to fish for an Oscar.
Rating: **
