Ruth & Alex - Verliebt in New York

It is so refreshing to watch a film with a contemporary story that focuses on older people and their choices and strengths instead of seeing them act foolish or pathetic. Based on Jill Ciment's book as adapted for the screen by Charlie Peters and directed with straightforward good taste by Richard Loncraine, this quiet little film is a wonderful platform for tow of our most respected actors – 69 year old Diane Keaton and 78 year old Morgan Freeman – who create an irresistible chemistry.

Briefly, long-time happily married couple Ruth and artist Alex Carver (Keaton and Freeman) who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away, having decided to cash in on their sought-after Brooklyn apartment. The story opens with one of the reasons they feel the need to move after 40 years in the '5 flights up' apartment with no elevator: their little dog Dorothy is having difficulty maneuvering the stairs and ends up with a slipped vertebral disc that requires a Vet's expertise and surgery. They engage Ruth's niece, real estate agent Lily (Cynthia Nixon, who is wonderfully, gushingly obnoxious) and the visits to the apartment begin – all manner of rather despicable lookie-loos traipse through and a decision must be made. Ruth and Alex find an apartment in Manhattan that is one the 9th floor and has an elevator, but issues arise that make them alter their initial decision.

Beautifully understated is the fact that Ruth and Alex are childless, entered an interracial marriage when it was not fashionable to do so, and have grown old together making every day count. They are wonderful and the film does them justice. It is such a pleasure to see two seasoned and gifted actors make such an impressive statement.

Recommended for all those who think happiness is dependent on social media based.

Written and directed by Charlie Peters and Richard Loncraine, respectively, "Five Flights Up" is an amiable and low-keyed urban comedy about an aging couple reluctantly selling the New York apartment they've lived in for forty years. Though Ruth sees this as an opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives, Alex, a seemingly only moderately successful painter, fights to hold onto the place, making subtle little efforts to sabotage the sale.

Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman make for very pleasant company indeed, and, while the movie's insights into aging, relationships and end-of-life downsizing aren't exactly earth-shattering, they are certainly more than we customarily get from romantic comedies set at the opposite end of the age spectrum. Yet, while it acknowledges the troubles that come with aging, the film happily doesn't fixate on them to the exclusion of all else.

Above all, the movie shows how hard it can be to leave a home and a neighborhood after a lifetime spent setting down roots there.

And anyone who's ever endured the bureaucratic nightmare involved in buying and selling a home will find much to relate to in the movie.

'5 FLIGHTS UP': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton star in this drama flick, about an elderly couple that finally decide to move; out of the New York apartment they've spent their lives together in. The film was directed by Richard Loncraine and written by Charlie Peters. It was based on the 2009 novel, 'Heroic Measures' (by Jill Ciment), and it costars Cynthia Nixon (of 'SEX AND THE CITY' fame). I found the movie to be charming, and somewhat sweet, but nothing too memorable.

Freeman and Keaton play Alex and Ruth Carver; an older couple that's lived in the same apartment, in New York, all of their time together. They've finally decided to move; largely due to the fact that their apartment is five flights up, and their apartment building has no elevator. Everyone they meet, interested in their home, is rude and annoying. Alex really doesn't want to move; and the couple also has to deal with real-estate issues, and their dog's poor health.

There's not a lot to the film, other than some strong character development; and some even stronger acting. Freeman and Keaton are both fantastic, in the film together, and they have beautiful chemistry. Nixon is a scene-stealer, as well (and I've never seen 'SEX AND THE CITY'). There's never a lot going on, but the film is still always interesting; thanks largely to it's veteran cast.

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"I don't like our lives being in the hands of someone else." Alex (Freeman) and Ruth (Keaton) are getting ready to sell their apartment and begin a new chapter in their life. When they begin to show the space old feelings begin to come back. Now, between the visitors and looking for a new place, they start to remember the times they had together. First of all I have to say this movie was OK, but being 36, if I was about 30 years older I think I would have liked it more. The story is OK but this is a movie that resonates much more with an older crowd do due the subject matter. The acting is great and it was good but many of the subtleties were lost on me since I have never been through something like this. Overall, worth seeing but the older you are the more you will enjoy this. I give it a B-.

A general film about life,growing old & learning to be happy where you're at. Had a few laughs,decently cast & ok cinematography. This movie will appeal to those older,that have dealt with choices of home buying & so forth. Wasn't overly exciting,pace of movie was fine & kept my attention. The real estate agent was annoying,but didn't ruin the movie. Check it out!