What's going on in 'All of Us Strangers'? Perhaps you, the reader, know. Because I certainly don't. How little do I know? As soon as I arrived home from viewing the film I Google'd the film's 'explanations' and read a couple. And I swear it, no two explanations were the same. Which says, Don't feel bad if, after you see it, your opinion differs from that of everyone else in the theatre, or in your home. Because your opinion .... hey, it's as good as anyone's.
Our hero (Andrew Scott) lives in a London high-rise building; a building seemingly empty but for him. Until one night he discovers another man at his front door, a man (Paul Mescal) who comes on to him in the first few seconds. Following this two things happen. (1) They begin a passionate physical affair. And (2) the Andrew Scott character visits his childhood home only to discover that his long-dead parents (Claire Foye and Jamie Pell) are not dead at all. Or ... are they? Well ghosts or real the two seem sort of happy to see their son, but not overjoyed. Nor are they supportive of him 'coming out' to them as a gay man. Which would be a dramatic turn if we knew whether they are actually, physically ... present. Which I guess they're not. Which means, What? And important to say here, these are NOT spoilers; I can be, and likely am, completely incorrect in my assessment. In fact the more I think about the film the more my opinion changes. Which might be what the filmmaker wanted. Or ... not.
But I'm sorry. Despite good pacing, intimate cinematography, characters we care about (without knowing anything about them), there are simply too many Question-Marks here. I need to plant my feet on something solid, no matter for how short a time. But I couldn't. And I didn't.
And because of that, I say, Not for me.
But if you're up for it, and I believe that many are, go right ahead.
Our hero (Andrew Scott) lives in a London high-rise building; a building seemingly empty but for him. Until one night he discovers another man at his front door, a man (Paul Mescal) who comes on to him in the first few seconds. Following this two things happen. (1) They begin a passionate physical affair. And (2) the Andrew Scott character visits his childhood home only to discover that his long-dead parents (Claire Foye and Jamie Pell) are not dead at all. Or ... are they? Well ghosts or real the two seem sort of happy to see their son, but not overjoyed. Nor are they supportive of him 'coming out' to them as a gay man. Which would be a dramatic turn if we knew whether they are actually, physically ... present. Which I guess they're not. Which means, What? And important to say here, these are NOT spoilers; I can be, and likely am, completely incorrect in my assessment. In fact the more I think about the film the more my opinion changes. Which might be what the filmmaker wanted. Or ... not.
But I'm sorry. Despite good pacing, intimate cinematography, characters we care about (without knowing anything about them), there are simply too many Question-Marks here. I need to plant my feet on something solid, no matter for how short a time. But I couldn't. And I didn't.
And because of that, I say, Not for me.
But if you're up for it, and I believe that many are, go right ahead.