Movie: All of Us Strangers
Production Company: Searchlight Pictures, Blueprint Pictures, Film4 Productions, TSG Entertainment
Director: Andrew Haigh
Producers: Sarah Harvey, Peter Czernin, Graham Broadbent
Scriptwriters: Andrew Haigh
Main Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy
Release Date: 26th January 2024
Running Time: 105 minutes
Certificate: 15
Introduction: Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal showcase the purest form of chemistry I have ever seen in a film in this extraordinary tale of love that is an absolute force of nature to witness.
Synopsis: Based on the book called ‘Strangers’, Andrew Scott plays Adam, a TV and Film writer who travels back to his childhood home (after losing his parents in a car crash when he was a child) for inspiration whilst, at the same time, beginning a relationship with his enigmatic neighbour Harry played by Paul Mescal.
Analysis: Words have never failed me as much as they have here. Very rarely have I been this sucked into a world and it’s character’s story, being utterly and entirely emotionally engaged all throughout. ‘All of Us Strangers’ is the most beautiful film I have ever seen, and I simply cannot think of a single thing that is even remotely flawed about it. The fact that this has been overlooked by the Oscars is completely beyond me. Andrew Scott delivers a career best performance in what is truly one of the most powerful pieces of acting I have ever seen. Whilst I am aware of Paul Mescal’s popularity and astronomical rise to stardom, this was only the first film of his I’ve encountered but that is about to change. He too is phenomenal here. Their connection here is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Jamie Bell and Claire Foy are excellent as the parents as well.
The way in which the film handles and executes Adam’s interaction with his parents and his memories is something that I have never seen done before in cinema. His adult self essentially just interacts with them as if nothing ever happened. The script and the writing is so sharp that it playfully and very philosophically deals with the ideas and themes of love, loss and family. It’s sheer scale of creativity is something I just marvelled at, and boy does it know how to tug at the heart strings; it’s aware of what it’s doing and does it deliberately so. The film is basically saying: ‘I am going to make you cry whether you like it or not’. If you do not feel emotion watching this film, then I am afraid to say you have a heart of stone; it is such a rarity to have a piece of cinema like this because it is almost guaranteed to resonate with everyone who watches it in some way or another.
As someone who’s favourite form of music is film scores, Emilie Levienaise – Farrouch’s gently soothing soundtrack hooked me as soon as I heard it, as it offers a rich, comfortable and special layer of the correct kind of mood and tone to make the scenes work. Simplicity at its finest. The absolutely gorgeous cinematography from Jamie Ramsay offers such a crisp and crystal – clear vision of this world whilst, at the same time, getting up close and personal with everything else. The intimacy that is required for some moments is perfectly captured. It’s choice of colour schemes is also so arresting. ‘All of Us Strangers’ is hard to describe without wishing to give anything away – you really just have to see it. It is something that has to be seen to be believed. Perhaps the most masterfully heartfelt film I have ever had the privilege of watching, we will be lucky to see a film that has this much imagination and ingenuity again. I am just speechless.
In cinemas now.
Overall Rating: 10/10 – Perfect
Target Audience: 15+
Content Warning: strong sexual detail, sex, drug misuse, very strong language
Recommendation: Yes
