A Long Way Down Review

Reviewed by David Savage

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, Aaron Paul
Directed by: Pascal Chaumeil
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 92 minutes
Release Date: 28 July 2014
Format: DVD
RRP: £17.99

A Long Way Down is adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by British author Nick Hornby and is a story about four lonely, miserable people who on New Year’s Eve all decide enough is enough and want to throw themselves from a tower block roof but by chance all end up on the same rooftop, a meeting that changes their lives forever.

The film starts with Martin Sharp (Pierce Brosnan), a former TV presenter, standing on a rooftop of a tower block ready to commit suicide. It’s New Year’s Eve and a popular night for suicides so he is soon joined by Maureen (Toni Collette), a single mother of a disabled child, Jess, a misunderstood teenager who happens to be a politician’s daughter and J.J. (Aaron Paul), a failed band member and loser.

Needless to say none of them jump off and a friendship of the 4 very different people forms with all looking out for each other and they agree a pact not to kill themselves until Valentine’s Day.

The film follows their lives after meeting and what happens when the press get hold of the story. It also highlights each individual showing how they happened to be on the roof that night.

Overall, A Long Way Down is a very touching film about 4 people who have had enough and want to end their lives until a chance meeting on a rooftop makes them see things differently and form an unlikely friendship which changes all their lives forever. While the subject of suicide may make the film seem like a very tragic and upsetting story it is done extremely well with some laugh out loud moments and is actually a heart-warming and funny story.

With some great performances especially from the 2 younger stars Imogen Poots and Aaron Paul it is a story that everybody will enjoy and is a uplifting British film of quality.

I would definitely recommend it.

Rating: 5/5

Available to buy from Amazon here.