An Inspector Calls (2015)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

I was lucky enough to see this play many years ago in London. It was on a rainy night and everything just worked perfectly. Happened across the movie, which I did not know they had even made, and even after all these years, I loved the story again.

I had no idea about this film nor what to expect other than I love British movies and the lead actor, David Thewlis. The plot is spellbinding & holds you to every moment. Each actor is brilliant in character. Such a pleasure to see a totally different type of movie instead of these huge epics. Bravo!

'An Inspector Calls' is a wonderful play written by J B Priestley and first performed in the mid-1940s. It was transformed into a brilliant film, starring the great Alastair Sim as the Inspector, in 1954 and against which all subsequent performances have to be measured. That said, this version comes close.As the Inspector, David Thewlis is wonderfully cast and Ken Stott makes a great contribution as the rich and selfish Mr Birling. Miranda Richardson is a marvellously arrogant Mrs Birling, while the rest of the cast play rather more sympathetic characters. Poor Eva Smith is pretty and doomed, her life destroyed by the Birling family whether through malice, selfishness or because they simply don't understand 'how the other half lives'.Eva Smith does nothing wrong; she simply tries to survive but at every turn she seems destined to collide with some member, or near member, of the Birling family. Sacked by one, sacked again because of another; abandoned by a third and left pregnant by a fourth, she is finally turned away by the local poor law committee, chaired without any sign of sympathy or compassion by Mrs Birling. The poor girl is left with only one way out, and she takes it.This is a fine adaptation of a great play. Wonderfully cast, superbly acted and truly gripping; my one and only criticism is of the occasionally too loud and quite unnecessary musical accompaniment. The way in which the various members of the family react as their parts in Eva's death come to light reflects their different attitudes to life. The senior members remain aloof and in denial while the younger ones show far greater sensitivity and feelings of guilt until the Inspector's credentials are called into question; then they start to regain their confidence as it seems it was all a rather nasty joke. When they discover that there has been no such death reported, joy is almost unconfined.And then the telephone rings and the only question left unanswered is 'Who was the Inspector ?'

Definitely a highlight of 2015 television, and has made me interested in checking out the earlier versions highly recommended by several viewers.There's not much to add to what's already been said. A very well-made, brilliantly acted and gripping drama. Two of 'An Inspector Calls' strongest elements are the production values and the acting. It's filmed with class and atmosphere and the production and costume design are evocative and beautiful to look at.Faring best of the cast are David Thewlis, Ken Stott and Miranda Richardson. Thewlis gives an understated but quite brilliant performance that tells so much in the facial expressions while doing little but still making it interesting, it enhances the character's ambiguity very well. Stott is commanding and suitably gruff, while Richardson portrays her character's coldness flawlessly. The rest of the cast also impress, if not quite up the level of Thewlis, Stott and Richardson.Writing is similarly very strong and thought-provoking, a lot is covered and talked about but done in a way that never comes over as confusing. The emphasis on the psychological elements give a lot of complexity, help make the characters interesting and show their flaws without making us hate them.'An Inspector Calls' storytelling is gripping from start to finish. While taking its time to tell the story it does not drag and the ending, while a bit confusing on first watch, is very clever and unexpected.Overall, splendid stuff and a 2015 television highlight. 10/10 Bethany Cox