NEVER LET ME GO

Pepe's View:

Taken from a science fiction novel by Kazou Ishigwo, this movie directed by Mark Romanek, requires the viewer to go with the flow and not apply too much logic to the underlying premise.  We are asked to accept that history has been rewritten and that in 1953, life expectancy in England has been extended by using clones whose organs are harvested.  Isn't that a bit of a cheat?  - To set a science fiction story in the immediate past means minimum research re history or imagination re a futuristic world!
We are introduced to the 3 protaganists Cathy, Tommy and Ruth as children in a "public school" from which there is no escape and which is ruled with a rod of iron to ensure that the children remain healthy and that nothing of the outside world intrudes.  We gradually come to realise the premise of he film as we follow the 3 friends to the next stage of their growth in "The Cottages".  Here we are introduced to the adult versions played by Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightly respectively.
Although they are protected from the outside world, they do watch videos, listen to current music and indulge in sex - presumably even clones have natural sexual urges?
This movie had me asking questions all the time - it did not manage to suspend my disbelief as is required of films of the genre - and left me thoroughly annoyed. 
It transpires that these human sacrifices can extend their life by a few years by becoming a carer (someone who looks after the patients between organ donations).  Nothing was shown of the recipients of any of the organs and thus the ethical dilemma of who is most worthy of life was conveniently sidestepped.  In fact all ethical dilemmas were ignored so the movie became little more than a love triangle between Tommy and the two girls.
The ending, which has Cathy watching an idyllic country scene at sunset and having her voice over tell us the theme of the movie - in essence no one ever has enough time even though we don't take advantage of the time we have - was the ultimate in lazy filmmaking.
Perhaps it would have saved a lot of time if she had done that an hour earlier!

My Score:  5/10

Ma's View:

This overly long movie was basically a love story made more poignant by the fact that the time these young people shared was to be cut short by their awful fate - as repeat organ donors until their bodies (or spirit) gave out.  Setting aside the horror factor of this science fiction "world gone mad" premise, powerful as that is, there is not enough depth to the movie.  The authorities claim to have solved the ethics of the practice, they claim to have ruled out the possibility that these clones have a soul but their is no explanation or examination of these aspects.  Neither is there any parallel drawn between them and the recipients of the body parts - who qualifies for these?  do they have to prove they have a soul?  do they have any qualms about it?   Other questions come to mind - why are the clones so passive?  are there none who try to run away or commit suicide or try other means of avoiding their fate?  We need to know how they were being controlled.

As far as the acting goes, Andrew Garfield was the most believable of the 3 young protagonists.  Kiera Knightly was as always and Carey Mulligan seems to have been chosen for the part because her standard facial expression is such that she seems always on the point of bursting into tears.  Thank god for Charlotte Rampling bringing some quality acting to the screen.

Disappointing!

My score: 5.5/10