The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry [2023]

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Oscar winner Jim Broadbent heading to Devon to film 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' ". Devon Live. 23 September 2021. So it's a low key account of someone with deep rooted feelings of guilt about past matters who becomes inspired to do something worthwhile. His wife really doesn't get it and, I have to say, neither do I. Stories are make believe. They don't always necessarily have to reflect real life. But this is no fantasy adventure. It's a story about a supposedly ordinary old bloke undertaking something, supposedly, extraordinary in a pretty ordinary world, so some grounding in reality would fit. But nothing about this is believable. Why would someone who has been around for well over seventy years be inspired by a few words from a shop assistant to change the course of his life? And having become so inspired why would he adopt the course of taking what in real life would be an utterly futile 500 mile walk? And why would other people be in some way inspired by this lunacy? However, while he has a phone, he’s left it behind… although it’s only an old Nokia and so doesn’t have GPS, anyway. But then, despite how never having really walked anywhere, and with no way to tell where he’s going, he has a great sense of direction. How would you know which road is taking you – literally – down the right path? Jim Broadbent was fantastic in this role and so was his wife and all the quirky characters he meets along the way. It certainly has a Tom Hanks Forrest Gump vibe to the film with the walking across the country plot. The reveal with his son cut deep and becomes serious when you least expected.

The story might be slight but I found it nonetheless compelling. Both Broadbent and Wilton produce powerful performances and as the film progresses their characters personalities start to make sense. The film is also well made and full of good performances and doesn't feel overlong. However, the plot can sometimes be implausible, and some supporting characters feel underdeveloped. The pacing is often ploddingly slow.

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce – review, The Guardian 6 April 2012, retrieved 10 March 2014 The titular character, portrayed by Jim Broadbent ( The Sea Beast), is a bit of a shut-in, and has never gone anywhere, but then neither has his wife, Maureen ( Penelope Wilton– The BFG). They just seem to exist in their stage of retirement. The BFI's 10 Biggest Production Awards Of 2021: Jim Broadbent Pic 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry' & Carol Morley's 'Typist Artist Pirate King' Top List". Deadline. 27 December 2021.

Jim Broadbent is a national treasure. He's perfect in this. He also narrated the audiobook of this story. Jim Broadbent is of course marvellous, and the supporting cast of tag alongside are funny, but this good hearted film ultimately is about loss and pain and the director and writer never manage to lift us far enough away from tragedy to gain insight and relief. Nature plays an incredibly strong part in "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" as does the landscape and the people he meets. Unfortunately, the supporting cast feel forced, two-dimensional and pepper Harold's journey purely to impart information that could be taken or left behind. This isn't helped by the stunted pacing and frequent B-roll cutaways to presumably things Harold wouldn't have seen if hadn't set off on his adventure. Her first novel was a long-list finalist for the 2012 Man Booker Prize winning the UK National Book Award for New Writer of the Year

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a 2023 British drama film directed by Hettie Macdonald. It is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Rachel Joyce. The film stars Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton. Harold is an ordinary man who has passed through life, living on the side lines, until he goes to post a letter one day...and just keeps walking. a b Wiseman, Andreas (20 July 2023). "UK Distribution Stalwart eOne Shutting Down Theatrical Operation As Hasbro's Global Cuts Continue To Bite". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 30 July 2023.

The "Pilgrims" are a social commentary on how lost people need something to believe in no matter how banal. Harvey, Chris (22 April 2023). "Jim Broadbent on JK Rowling: 'I think she is amazing – I would support her' ". The Telegraph . Retrieved 22 April 2023.Picturehouse Cinemas are a group of 27 neighbourhood cinemas in the United Kingdom, operated by Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd. Nothing felt right, the emotion wasn't in the moments it needed to be, I didn't like the couple, obviously sad their son died but they just weren't good characters. I think different people will take different messages at various parts, some motivational, maybe some introspective and a few negative ones. Others will think it's like an xfactor audition where if you pull at the heart strings enough you will succeed. Maher, Kevin (28 April 2023). "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry review — a deep dive into the souls of a retired couple". The Times . Retrieved 11 May 2023. The dog who adopts JB and leaves to care for another souls is brilliant, and the realisation by the protagonist's wife that she is a very selfish person is cathartic, but the writer cannot escape her own desire to make us live the pain forever.

I couldn't help comparing The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to the 2021 movie that starred Timothy Spall titled The Last Bus . I scored that movie an 8/10 both movies are about pilgrimages The Last Bus in my view is a far superior movie based on a true story about an aging man who travels across the UK by bus to fulfill his pledge to spread his late wife's ashes near their first home at Land's End. Harold also realises that his journey to Queenie Hennesy is also a way for him to resolve issues from his past and to listen to the problems of others, such as a "silver-haired gentleman" whom he meets in a cafe early in his journey, or a middle-aged woman with cuts on her wrists. Harold is not a particularly fit man, and the journey is long and arduous. But as he walks, he begins to reflect on his life and the choices he has made. He also begins to make new connections with the people he meets along the way. Who better to play "Harold" than Jim Broadbent, giving another masterclass in acting from the heart.The social media/celebrity element leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and his first follower appears endearing at first but then descends into cult follower territory trying to find meaning from someone else's cause. I thought the movie became over sentimental and frankly a bit silly when Harold becomes an unwilling media celebrity and begins to attract groupies to join him including a very troubled young man and a little dog that looks as old as Harold. People in the different villages recognise Harold and he almost becomes a pop star icon until he realises he needs to compete his pilgrimage alone. Broadbent also narrated the audiobook version of this story...so he's very familiar with the material. When I saw the plot and Jim I just assumed this would be a hit, normally every film he's in is pretty good and these British films are always a fun watch at the least but this film was just an absolute mess.