When I'm Sixty-Four

I watched 'When I'm 64' out of curiosity. I was attracted by the preview of this drama about the friendship of two older men. As I was not certain if I would be in that evening, I recorded it. I am so glad that I did!

London taxi driver Ray (Paul Freeman) is in his middle sixties and a widower. He has two grown-up children and grandchildren but grieves deeply still for his wife. One day, he is called out to a private school to collect newly-retired bachelor school master Jim Bryant (Alun Armstrong). The two men's lives are destined to change for ever.

At first sight, they seem to have little in common. Ray is a former football hooligan, tattooed, with a London accent who spends his free time down the pub with his mates. Jim is a well-spoken, well-educated public school teacher who collects stamps. Gradually, however, as their friendship grows, they find life opening up windows of opportunity for them in ways they never could have imagined.

The story is structured well as it charts the development of Ray and Jim's relationship from professional to something closer. The rounded characterisations of the two leads, coupled with the appearance of their families and friends, reveal to the watcher what has made the two men how they are, who and what has brought them to this stage in their lives. Good use of settings helps convey the contrasting lifestyles of the characters.

Paul Freeman and Alun Armstrong are excellent as the two leads. It is difficult not to think of Paul Freeman as the villainous French archaeologist in 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' - but, it is credit to his skills as an actor that he is as believable (and much more likable) as the very different London cabbie Ray. Alun Armstrong, often in authoritative roles, is convincing and sympathetic as Jim, the somewhat stereotypical English public school master who is yet so desirous of breaking away from the life he has known after he retires. Thanks to the chance meeting with Ray, he is able to fulfil his ambitions to "see the world and fall in love".

Strong performances are given also by the supporting actors and actresses. Special mention should be made of Ray's friend Billy (Karl Johnson) who adds a touch of black humour to the story. (Trivia point: Karl Johnson was one of the musicians on 'Rainbow' in its very early days).

Perhaps I should mention that, although fairly conservative by nature, I did not think the scene upstairs was offensive; rather, I found it innocent and touching. Whatever may have happened, however, the most important aspect of the relationship is their friendship. Jim and Ray were two lonely men who would have probably remained so had they not found each other. At the end, I was on the edge of my seat, willing the story to end the way it did and I was so pleased with the outcome.

'When I'm 64' is an unconventional but touching story with its theme of 'it's never too late'. All the threads of the story are brought together effectively and carefully whilst its potentially controversial scenes are handled with sensitivity. I find it hard not to like Jim and Ray nor to wish them the best of luck. It deserves to be called a classic.

Actually quite annoyed with this film. Underscripted, unlikely and difficult to suspend credulity. A terribly dull man, for some reason attracts the friendship and attention of another man for no discernible reason. The film plods on predictably with zero chemistry between them. The interpersonal relations between them and the potential for family tensions is given two dimensional treatment. Painfully amateurish.

This is quite simply the best single drama the BBC have delivered in years. Just when you thought they were dumbing-down and wasting the licence fee on makeover shows, they hit you with this beautifully observed and painstakingly constructed story of love in later life which gives clichés a wide berth and delivers honest and believable characters coping with the kind of situation that, frankly, just does not get enough exposure in the media.

Downtrodden Jim, reaching the end of his usefulness in the teaching profession, wants to experience 'life' before he dies. Unfortunately he's saddled with looking after his elderly father and it begins to look as if he's going to be exchanging one form of stultifying prison existence for another. Then into his life comes Ray, taxi driver and ex-football hooligan, who is serving his own life sentence, enslaved by a family who neither appreciate him nor have any sympathy with his ongoing grief for his dead wife.

The two men are opposites in almost every respect, but as they each begin to resolve their personal dilemmas and come to terms with homosexual longings they have suppressed for decades the viewer is on the edge of his or her seat willing them to succeed. By the time they reach the bedroom their tender clumsiness together has been so well established that no graphic details are necessary; we know they'll muddle through somehow.

Alun Armstrong is an actor of great depth and integrity and any project bearing his name is always going to be worth watching, but he's a revelation here; his sensitive and understated performance never once strays in the direction of camp parody. Paul Freeman, on the other hand, was a real surprise; not being familiar with his other work I had no idea what to expect but he made Ray a whole person, a man who at last found himself open to the adventure of falling in love. Nor was there a single member of the supporting cast who hit a wrong note anywhere, and the direction and production design were disciplined and - for want of a better word - sane. The whole tone of the play was matter-of-fact and sympathetic; "Hey, guess what, men *do* sometimes fall in love with each other." It may not always be tidy or convenient, but then nor is any *other* aspect of life.

Thank you, cast, crew, writer, commissioning editor and everyone else who had the foresight to be involved in this - but most of all, Mr Armstrong and Mr Freeman, thank you for making me believe.

Two of my favorite actors from New Tricks. Surprising twists, gutsy and fun. I find that increasingly, I orefer British TV to American. More real, less violent, less woke/value signaling/political.

I watched this by chance while channel hopping and I'm so glad I did. I had no idea it was about gay rights but knew by the spark between the 2 men that's where it was going. Its funny, a little bit sad and terribly heartwarming. I cried happy tears.