When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007)

I love this movie so much

People are voting emotionally.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Sometimes a film can have a great cast attached, a good script and a good director and still come up short. For a good example of that see this film.It's not bad by any means, it just doesn't achieve it's potential. I thought Colin Firth did well, ditto Jim Broadbent, but there is too slow a pace, and too much wasted dialogue for this film to do a lot for me sadly.It's a shame because it should have been great

Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth are exceptionally well-cast (and excellent as usual) portraying a father and son in the latter portion of their days together. The blustery old father has been diagnosed with cancer and only a short time left to live, causing his son--who was always embarrassed of his cheating, gad-about parent--to reflect on their times together. No new insights or observations into the eternal tug-of-war that goes on between son and father, though it is well accomplished and finely tuned. The flashbacks are a bit of a nuisance after a time, as one longs for more insight into the present. Firth, who always seems to be photographed from behind a piece of furniture or a banister, is controlled and subdued while Broadbent gets the juicier part of his showboating elder, the kind of man who expects applause for his rampant storytelling and joshing, stinging criticism. Incisive at times with uncomfortable truths, and undoubtedly moving by the finish; not a big night at the movies, but very watchable. **1/2 from ****

Mirrors and reflections are the dominating forces here that project an extremely beautiful and melancholy father and son relationship. As the film progresses and the time-passages segue into both past and present tense, throughout, we see what it is to feel regret, discontent and anger. Seen through the eyes of the son, Blake, and his struggle to overcome his overbearing fathers unconsciously selfish and dominating carefree persona. This is a young child, a growing teen and now middle-aged man who, after all the years gone by, is still failing in his own personal duties to fully embrace the shortcomings and inadvertent arrogance of his father. Based on Blake Morrison's autobiographical account on his own relationship with his father, the title in itself is a question that comprises a poignant air of respect. Throughout, too, an engaging use of mirrors is at the forefront of the narrative, a charming, imaginative and very interesting metaphor of reflective reconciliation. It is with this tone that director Anand Tucker finds a balance of dry wit and sympathy concerning Jim Broadbent's outgoing and cancer-bearing Arthur, Matthew Beard as the angst ridden, frustrated teenage son and Colin Firth's older Blake and his reflective unhappiness.And When Did You Last See Your Father? has the hallmarks of a wonderful concoction of emotion: humour, empathy, sorrow and tenderness and with the purely stunning and beautiful cinematography, as done by Howard Atherton (Lassie, 2005), a script of deep regret, in all, shows more than a beautiful and extremely touching vision of life. Simply stunning. Simply beautiful. Simply breathtaking.

After seeing 'When Did You Last See Your Father?', I was reminded that I was relieved that when I lost my Father a scant four years ago, we parted on very good terms. This is a powder keg of a film that manages to spill many tears & hidden truths about a father & son. The story, taken from the true accounts by writer Blake Morrison,is about the love/hate, love/love, hate/hate relationship Morrison shared with his own father, played to perfection by Jim Broadbent (of many a Mike Leigh film). Besides the well written/adapted screenplay,top notch direction & superb acting by the entire cast, I really admired the photography, utilizing light & dark & positioning as a framing device. The films's editing is a sight to behold, too (the way the action cuts back & forth in time over a period of 30 plus years). Hopefully, when Oscar time rolls around next year, 'When Did You Last See Your Father' will be a prime contender for at least a couple of awards.