Ashes

Main reason for review is the change of genre for Ray Winstone who usually plays the cockney bad guy with relish to find him playing an Alzheimer's sufferer taken from the typical home on a road trip is surprising but he plays the role superbly, I knew he was good at what he normally played but this role showed his ability far more than previous roles I am happy to praise his performance as someone who years ago cared for these patients he is so realistic in the role I was shocked. It's not a happy film and I would rewrite the ending but stress Ray Winstone's performance is really worth watching, hope he does more work outside of his usual genre.

Most people will be more familiar with Ray Winstone as 'tough-guy' characters, so perhaps that's one reason he's decided to take a break from 'busting heads' and started to show the viewers that he's got more of a 'sensitive' side.

In Ashes, he plays an Alzheimer sufferer who gets 'kidnapped' by his son from the hospital he's been committed to and then taken on a roadtrip across England. Why? Well, that's something you have to find out.

The first thing you need to is that this certainly isn't a 'feel-good' film. It's dark, nasty and certainly not light-hearted in any way. Its major plus-point is Ray Winstone. He plays the part perfectly, switching from scared bouts of violence, to just plain scared. He's the reason this film is worth watching, as the 'story' is somewhat lacking. I was left wondering why exactly these two were driving across country, as it isn't really explained until about the hour mark. Although, that is the time when the film generally starts to pick up.

The first hour - excluding Ray's performance - is pretty hard to sit through. It doesn't really go anywhere and drags by. However, if you can excuse that, it does get better and the last act ties everything up.

If you're a fan of Ray then you'll enjoy this. Otherwise, you'll have to be in the mood for a very dark drama to get something out of this.

Ray Winstone is one of my favourite British actors, and usually brightens up even the most dour of motion pictures. Here though, his role is a very confused one... On the one hand, he's a mentally ill dementia sufferer who sees delusions, and on the other he remembers things from his past, such as stealing cars and killing people. I thought Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man was slightly unconvincing, but this goes right to the heart of Hollywood Illnesses. He's too hysterical and too knowing, so alas, you always know you're watching a performer rather that than a very sick man.

A cross between a road movie and a buddy movie, when the film doesn't focus on Winstone's odd behaviour and hallucinations it tries to build a relationship between him and his erstwhile son. There are touching moments, but a twist late on puts a new slant on things and we wonder just why Winstone's offspring makes some of the decisions he does, and it comes across as poor writing. Ashes is a mediocrity that won't stand out on anyone involved in it's CV, and will probably be yesterday's chip paper very soon after being viewed... 5/10

This film tells the story of a man who has to pick his father up from a mental hospital, and deliver him back home. The father in question is a man with dementia, and has very confused and hallucinatory episodes every now and then.

The first half of "Ashes" tells a story of a demented man, and the soon who tries very hard to cope with the horrible symptoms of the father's dementia. The symptoms are severe but realistic, and it provokes empathy and respect for carers. The second half tells a different story, and I find it confusing and poorly built up. The interweaving flashbacks and reality of the demented man in the bar is very confusing. And the motives of the mysterious man behind the whole thing is beyond comprehension too, as there could have been much easier ways to achieve his goal. Overall, I find the film rather dull and boring.

This is an unusual film that straddles a few genres. It's filmed on a relatively small budget but as so often is the case outperforms films with much higher budget.

Ray Winstone is an interesting and charismatic actor and he does a great job in this as a man suffering from the crippling effects of Alzheimer's. Jim Sturgess provides excellent support as his seemingly concerned son.

The film can get quite confusing as it switches from drama to thriller and back again but this is to be applauded. You never quite know where it is heading and that makes a pleasant change from many predictable films in these genres. There are moments of real emotion and some nice twists of plot.

This is a well directed and acted British film and is highly recommended.