Before You Go (2002)

I recorded Before You Go because it involved both the director and the star of Educating Rita, namely Lewis Gilbert and Julie Walters, respectively. Unfortunately, this small British comedy-drama didn't share a script by Willy Russell with the previous movie, and if it had done maybe it would have been better. As it was this tale of 3 sisters coming together to mourn their mother was a rather uninteresting affair. So glued to my seat was I that I even washed up and surfed the internet while it played out, and normally I like to give a film my full attention. I like to persevre to the end though. While not a bad movie, Before You Go was uninspiring, particularly when you consider the innovate animations or enthralling foreign dramas I've been watching over the past fortnight. 

Julie Walters was the highlight of the film, and Tom Wilkinson provided excellent support as her husband, while Miranda's what-I-call onscreen mother, Patricia Hodge, portrayed the 3 sister's mother. This was odd, since she was dead from the opening scene, but one of the sisters kept seeing her in visions, and there was some plot McGuffin concerning a tin and a birth certificate... and I lost interest. Also, the film featured John Hannah, a charisma free zone if ever there was one. I won't pick a movie based on director and star combinations in a hurry in future!