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IMDbPro

Stuart: A Life Backwards

  • TV Movie
  • 20072007
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
13K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,677
2,237
Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
Drama
A writer takes a backwards look at the life of his unlikely friend, Stuart, a homeless alcoholic who experienced a traumatic childhood event.A writer takes a backwards look at the life of his unlikely friend, Stuart, a homeless alcoholic who experienced a traumatic childhood event.A writer takes a backwards look at the life of his unlikely friend, Stuart, a homeless alcoholic who experienced a traumatic childhood event.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
13K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,677
2,237
    • David Attwood
    • Alexander Masters(biography)
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Tom Hardy
    • Nicola Duffett
    • David Attwood
    • Alexander Masters(biography)
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Tom Hardy
    • Nicola Duffett
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award

    Photos25

    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Tom Hardy in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Alexander Masters
    Tom Hardy
    Tom Hardy
    • Stuart Shorter
    Nicola Duffett
    Nicola Duffett
    • Judith
    Claire-Louise Cordwell
    • Karen
    Edna Doré
    • Gran
    Candis Nergaard
    Candis Nergaard
    • Sophie
    Joanna Maude
    • Ruth
    Trevor Sellers
    Trevor Sellers
    • John
    Barbara Barnes
    • Wintercomfort Secretary
    Hugh Armstrong
    • Old Drunk
    George Anton
    • Dangerous Ginger
    Dominic Kemp
    • Academic Man
    Shenagh Govan
    Shenagh Govan
    • Bookish Woman
    Caroline Parker
    • Deaf Jackie
    Richard Cant
    Richard Cant
    • Dainty Man
    Terry Bird
    Terry Bird
    • Police Officer A
    Andrew Hallett
    • Police Officer B
    Laurence Hobbs
    Laurence Hobbs
    • Smithy
      • David Attwood
      • Alexander Masters(biography)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      With Tom Hardy being a method actor, he lost weight in preparation for filming to give his character the thin look of the drug addict and suicidal figure Stuart Shorter was in real life.
    • Goofs
      When Alexander lets Stuart into his house for the first time (about 7-8 minutes into the film) the shadow of the camera falls on the door as he closes it.
    • Quotes

      Alexander Masters: If you had to change one thing about your life, what would it be?

      Stuart Shorter: Well, how much is one thing?

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 5 Tom Hardy Films You've Never Seen (2018)

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Brilliant in all possible ways
    Here's an warming real life story transformed into a lovely TV film. It all starts when writer Alexander Masters (Benedict Cumberbatch) having plenty of available time on his hands decided to write the story of a homeless man he met while coordinating an campaign to release from prison the directors of a project that helps homeless people. The man in question is Stuart Shorter (Tom Hardy), an troubled and angered young man who has been arrested several different times, who suffers from a muscular dystrophy and lots of other problems as well but who happens to impress Alexander in a unusual way with some smartness, his humor and a great sense of friendship. And it is Stuart that gives Alexander the idea of writing his story in backwards. "Make it involving, do it like Tom Clancy. What murdered the little boy I was?" he says. And here begins the journey of finding who Stuart was and why he is the way he is now.

    David Attwood directs "Stuart: A Life Backwards" with grace and wisdom, working with a depressive subject without sentimentalism and using of plenty of humor, some comic reliefs and a great deal of imagination throughout little animated segments (everytime Masters thinks of Stuart's ideas or picturing moments of his life). What separates this movie from many similar made by Hollywood is the honest portrayal of the main figure, without providing easy answers on why Stuart end up the way he ended. Just like the writer we keep putting the pieces together to form one and definitive Stuart, the man, but even with all the puzzle formed there's the sensation of looking at a distance and still we wouldn't comprehend the image quite right. A simple man, a tragic figure yet so intriguing, so interesting to follow. That's what captivated Alexander and that's what captivates us viewers.

    And if the man with all his simplicity and his uniqueness in seeing the world is that fascinating on us is because the actor portraying him is all that as well. Well known for his action roles in pictures like "Rock N'Rolla" and "Inception" the great Tom Hardy gives his most impressive performance so far. Wheter angry, fragile, sick, eternally confused or just sharing a crazy thought, he makes all those feelings and reactions wonderfully. The mannerisms, the ticks, his slurred voice, a real character not an acting show, a perfect embodiment. And Mr. Cumberbacth doesn't get behind, he's very good and together they form a great team (as proved again in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", even though there they a little bit opposite from each other).

    "Stuart: A Life Backwards" is a good example of a film that doesn't need much to satisfy its viewers. You can watch over and over again, see new things on each view and see some positive and inspiring things. I highly recommend it. 9/10
    helpful•19
    3
    • Rodrigo_Amaro
    • Apr 3, 2012

    FAQ1

    • Broadcast Dates?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 23, 2007 (United Kingdom)
      • United Kingdom
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
      • HBO (United States)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • HBO Films
      • Knifedge
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 32 minutes
      • Color

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