A Long Way Down

Based on a Novel by Nick Hornby, A Long Way Down stars Pierce Brosnan, Imogen Poots, Aaron Paul and Toni Colette as 4 people who all decide to commit suicide on New Years eve by throwing themselves off the top of a tall tower block, upon meeting each other at the top they make a pact to stay alive at least until Valentines Day.

For the 2nd time in a week, Imogen Poots and Aaron Paul end up as an odd couple throen together by circumstances, but I think i preferred Need for Speed, in terns of their chemistry together. Toni Collette does a great Job as Maureen, a Mother of a severely disabled child, who thinks that her Son would be better cared for if she were dead.

I have not read the book, although a couple of people who have seem to suggest that the book is a lot more dark that the film, the book explores depression and the reasons why they were on the roof much more than the film, which struggles a little with tone, and almost becomes to much like a fun, humourous comedy. Although it is not hilariously laugh out loud funny, there are moments that make me chuckle, and its not without a certain sense of satisfaction, but I think fundamentally it misses the point of Hornby's Source Material. The Daytime TV scene with Rosamund Pike playing a TV presenter determined to get to the real truth perhaps gets somewhere close to exploring these issues, but then oulls back a little. As I said I have not read the book, so I might read it and report back.

On The whole thou, as a standalone film without having read the source material, it's passable, fun in places and the performance from Toni Collette is great, but it is missing something 6/10