Hope Gap

Bill Nighy is why I watched this. His strong performance was what propelled the film along and kept my interest. His character was the most likeable and somewhat reminisce of his character from 'About Time' - if he had endured an unhappy marriage for 30 years. 'Hope Gap' is not a happy film. I chuckled once or twice at some dark humour, but it was mostly depressive, such as marriage break-ups and domestic disputes are. The depressive tone was rather suffocating at times. Annette Benning's character of Grace infuriated me. I felt quite sorry for Bill Nighy's Edward and Josh O'Connor's Jamie. I think its testament to Benning's strong performance that she could make me dislike her so much. The characters were all very believable, including hers. I'm sure many will relate to aspects of the film, or know characters like them. It succeeded in accurately portraying three sides to the marriage break-up. I thought the poem at the end (by the son) was fitting and tied things together well. A well-placed cup of tea unexpectedly made me a little emotional too. The English coastal town was a nice setting to what was often unpleasant watching. Good performances, well-written, but ultimately loses points for just being too damn bleak.

Very enjoyable drama about an couple whose marriage is strained and break up and the effects on each and their grown son. Some humour but a serious film. Performances are first class and as usual Annette Bening is outstanding. John O'Connor (Gods Own Country) also is a stand out

Without having heard anything previously about this film, I did not hesitate to pay a little bit higher streaming fee than I normally would at this time because of the guarantee of excellence these two stars. All the performances were wonderful, including Josh O'Connor who I had not seen before. I went to bed thinking about it and I woke up thinking about it. The many levels it touched in me continue to unfold.

A slow paced, poignant film about a family breaking up. Benning, Nighy and O'Connor delivered captivating performances with such subtlety and conviction. Brilliant script and direction. Overall, It was poetry in motion.

So many marriage story theme recently. My focus is on the wife acting when facing all the breakdown on her side. Very enjoyable in this aspects. Great acting.

Two great actors in Annette Bening and Bill Nighy take us through the breakdown of a marriage. Not wonderful subject matter and some may argue that there may be better ways to wile away an hour and a half, but it is portrayed very well. I love Bill Nighy in everything, and even though I don't necessarily like his character here, he does it with aplomb. Having been married for about the same time as the couple portrayed here it was interesting to see what both had done wrong, or could have done better to preserve their marriage. Some reviewers have blamed the wife but I think that's unfair. Perhaps my one reservation is that there was a subtle message running through it that if the husband, his lover and the son could move on and be happy, then so should the wife. That's a bit harsh as I'm sure many jilted wives would attest. Feel sorry for the writer and director who evidently based this on his own parent's breakup. Interestingly, writing this now as the pandemic wreaks havoc around the world it is interesting to see that marriages are another victim of the virus. Too many couples having grown apart, and then forced to be together, have found the situation unbearable. How sad.

... gets a new member as a once satisfactory arrangement becomes more than a bit unsatisfactory and the deserted spouse finds it a bit tricky coming to terms with being on her own - although why you would want to perpetuate such misery can only be answered by the thousands that continue to do so on a daily basis. A little too drawn out but my take away was: don't be resigned to becoming your parents as the son believes will be the case. We really are in trouble if that starts to happen. They only give us our genes and typically 18 years of brainwashing, you need to spend the rest of your life washing it all out as best you can, no matter where you are on your journey to the bitter and twisted club.