Cemetery Junction

A seductive film. A drama , like a comedy. About ages, choices, appearences, mariage, friendship, teens, love, about small things defining each of us and about freedom. A film like an old song. Not for "70's atmosphere, but for accuracy of a near reality to you feel. A film about life, in its basic characteristics and about fundamental option defining it. The best scene, reminding the portraits of Vermeer-Emily Watson preparing the tea for her Mr. Kendrick , in blue dress, viewed from open door .

Cemetery Junction is one of those poor, small British towns, where the men go to work in factories and the women try to keep their kids out of jail. Freddy (Christian Cooke) wants something different; he wants to wear a suit to work, drive a Rolls Royce home to a beautiful wife and kids in a big house. He thinks this is a more noble life to live, and at least he's doing something about it.

I'm presuming this is a personal project for Ricky Gervais. The honesty and sheer accuracy of the time shine throughout the film. "Cemetery Junction" is a slice-of-life for young men growing up in poor suburbs in the 1970s. Freddy wants to get a job, his friends just want to get out. As they strive for what is supposed to be a better life, they realize the dark truths within everybody else in the town and what awaits them in their future.

"Cemetery Junction" is not the laugh-out-loud, farcical comedy that we would expect from Gervais. It's a meaningful, subtle dramedy exploring young men coming of age. And here, Gervais himself has certainly come of age as a director, we know this is 1970s England, looking poor and spectacular at the same time, and highlighting some exceptional performances by the young cast of Cooke, Tom Hughes, Matthew Goode, Jack Doolan, Emily Watson and the beautifully angelic Felicity Jones.

So many absolutely priceless moments. You can see Gervais and Merchant's masterful moments here. The writing is so top notch, so many unexpected twists that make it an utter delight to watch. And the ending is so unpredictable and wonderful. Every actor was just at the top of their game. You have to credit so much of that to the director(s).

Though I knew Ricky Gervais and Steve merchant directed it, I had no prior expectations about this movie. I did not know what it was about nor did i read any reviews before watching. Trust me, that is the best way to watch Cemetery Junction. Don't listen to the reviews of jaded film critics who over-analyze and complain about other movies being similar. This is a movie that make you feel good without explicitly being a feel-good movie. I came out feeling nostalgic for 70s Britain though I grew up in 90s USA. The dialog is witty, smart, often funny and sometimes touching. It deftly touches on themes of loss, regret, friendship, love, and following one's dreams. This is my favorite British film in quite some time. You will not regret watching this movie.

Loved this film. It really took me back. They don't quite nail the period, but you can tell when Fiennes is talking about his schooldays at the start, about leaving at 14, that they're blurring things a bit, or at least his character doesn't realize how things have changed... The preoccupation with obscenity, for example, is more 60s than 70s. (They work the idea so much of the Swinging 60s passing Cemetery Junction by that it's almost homage to Tom Courtenay and Rita Tushingham and that crowd!) It's England before punk, before the computer revolution, when the establishment thought they had won the argument that there was no cause left worth rebelling for/against, when there was still a workshop rather than silicon chip flavor to working life.

You can criticize the Hollywood stuff if you like, but Gervais and Merchant like to work where they can at different levels, as long as they get to take the mick out of all of them. I didn't hear the old radio shows much, but enough to know that. This is no exception. Not a strong plot. You have seen it lots of times before. Billy Liar is a better variation. But great dialog, great comic acting , beautifully observed, very funny, fantastic soundtrack. The only time I have ever liked the Osmonds' Crazy Horses. Great entertainment. You'd need to be really hard to please to be disappointed on that score. Personally I'd have liked a bit more sync with the Reading Festival, maybe some Rory Gallagher on the soundtrack, but bluesy Zeppelin will do, I'm not complaining. I'll take 2 stars off, though.

You still have to read between the lines to see the influence Ireland is starting to have. Made me wonder if they were starting to chicken out a bit from the path they've established, but we'll see, and I think there is something there. In the meantime, if you fancy a really funny film set in Belfast (different decade, 73 in Belfast was hell) there's always "An Everlasting Piece". But Cemetery Junction is not as petty and insignificant as some of the reviewers suggest. What exactly were they expecting? "Jane Eyre"? "War and Peace"?