That Good Night

The dialogue between Ralph Maitland and The Visitor is the axis of this beautiful , for melancholical air, film. In same measure, the soul of film remains the poem of Dylan Thomas. A film who you feel , as last mark of art of magnificent Sir John Hurt , as exploration, sure, supperficial, of misantropy and regrets , as good perspective about death and reconciliation with the past. An inspired eulogy to life.

I had never heard of this film until something made me add it to my list of dvds to watch - where that came from is beyond me. Anyway, watch it I did and it is absolutely beautiful. It's a pleasure to watch, the scenery and surroundings are tantalizing, (how do I get there?) and the characters perfectly drawn. The story is slow moving but you don't want or need speed and even the music, which I rarely care about, complements the whole beautifully. The story is simple and meanders along working with the other factors. The cast are good, nobody is over-stated but one feels their emotions. I have been thinking about this movie all day - and recommending it, it's that good.

A really enjoyable watch. John Hurt was brilliant in one of his last if not he's last film

Take away the mystique of this being John Hurt's last film and you're not left with anything substantial.

I'm not familiar with the age of the original play but the premise and themes explored such as mortality, parenthood, redemption excetera have become well used in recent years. Even decades.

Despite these heavy subject matters, it all feels rather thin on the ground. John Hurt and Charles Dance are both giants but they've been far better in many other films. Ironically they both appeared in the Alien series but not together. The short scenes they do share together however, are enjoyable.

For a more solid film on these subjects see Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, which is much better written, more subtle, better dialogue and more moving with powerhouse performances by Richard Harris and Robert Duvall. That was made 25 years before this, which is part of the issue. That Good Night feels thematically dated. At least in execution.

I really wanted to like this film far more than I did and despite it's lush photography, setting and music, it all felt a little cliche sadly. The last minute is quite moving but it's not enough to rescue the whole.

The only good things about this movie are the scenery,the story and John Hurt.

Sorry to say but the rest of the actors in this movie are very bad and not convincing at all. Except for Charles Dance.

It is because of John Hurt's acting that I kept watching. Shame because the story was good.