''Is Anybody There?'' is a 2008 British
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
starring
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...
and directed by
John Crowley John Crowley may refer to:
*John Crowley (Irish revolutionary) (1891-1942), Irish revolutionary and hunger striker
*John Crowley (author) (born 1942), American author
*John Crowley (baseball) (1862–1896), American Major League catcher
*John Crowl ...
. It was written by
Peter Harness
Peter Harness (born 1976) is an English playwright, screenwriter and actor. He has contributed to programmes such as ''McMafia'', '' City of Vice'' and ''Case Histories''.
Early life
He grew up in Hornsea, East Yorkshire and attended Oriel Coll ...
and produced by
David Heyman
David Jonathan Heyman (born 26 July 1961) is a British film producer and the founder of Heyday Films. Heyman secured the rights to the ''Harry Potter'' film series in 1999 and went on to produce all eight installments of the franchise. He als ...
,
Marc Turtletaub
Marc Jay Turtletaub (born January 30, 1946) is an American film producer and former president and CEO of The Money Store.
Early life and education
Born in Lakewood, New Jersey, he grew up in Perth Amboy, New JerseyOrtner, Sherry, B''Not Hollyw ...
and
Peter Saraf
Peter Saraf is an American film producer whose feature film credits include '' Adaptation'' (2002), '' Little Miss Sunshine'' (2006), ''Our Idiot Brother'' (2011), and ''The Kings of Summer'' (2013). In 2004, he co-founded the film production co ...
. The film premiered at the
2008 Toronto International Film Festival
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of the ...
under its original title ''Is There Anybody There?'' It garnered a nomination from the
London Film Critics' Circle
The London Film Critics' Circle is the name by which the Film Section of The Critics' Circle is known internationally.
The word London was added because it was thought the term Critics' Circle Film Awards did not convey the full context of the ...
for
Bill Milner
William Henry Milner (born 4 March 1995) is an English actor. He starred as Will Proudfoot in ''Son of Rambow'' (2007), Edward in ''Is Anybody There?'' (2008), and the young Erik Lensherr in '' X-Men: First Class'' (2011).
Early life
William ...
as the ''Young British Performer of the Year''.
Plot
In 1987 Edward (
Bill Milner
William Henry Milner (born 4 March 1995) is an English actor. He starred as Will Proudfoot in ''Son of Rambow'' (2007), Edward in ''Is Anybody There?'' (2008), and the young Erik Lensherr in '' X-Men: First Class'' (2011).
Early life
William ...
) is a ten-year-old boy who lives at an old people's home run by his parents (
David Morrissey
David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. Described by the British Film Institute as "one of the most versatile English actors of his generation", he is noted for the meticulous preparation and research h ...
and
Anne-Marie Duff
Anne-Marie Duff (born 8 October 1970) is an Irish actress and narrator. She is an accomplished theatre actress and has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. She has also received acclaim and awards for her television and film work.
After ...
). Surrounded by death and dying, he becomes obsessed with finding evidence for the afterlife, often using a tape recorder to capture his "encounters".
Edward is helped in his search by Clarence (
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...
), an elderly ex-magician in the early stages of dementia who has recently entered the home. They first meet on the road near the home, when he is nearly hit by his camper van. Clarence had been living in it, and is resistant to moving into the home.
Frustrated with having all of the residents in his home (he's lost his room, TV control and general privacy and freedom), Edward sets off the fire alarm. While everyone is out in the rain, he wreaks havoc alone inside.
The next day, Edward passes Clarence's van on his way to school. It's running, and he opens the door to a cloud of carbon monoxide. While he's hospitalized, Edward looks through his things. He has lots of show bills of his past magic acts.
Edward visits Clarence in the hospital, bringing a few things and apologizing. From this point on, the film follows their quest and their friendship, which ultimately allows both Edward and Clarence to come to terms with their respective situations.
Edward shows Clarence a peculiar ritual he does, trying to contact the dead. Magic interests both of them, so Edward learns some tricks to the kids at school. On his birthday Clarence takes them out in the van, but he gets confused in a round-a-bout, causing a pile up. They can't get it started again, so a frustrated Clarence empties it, pushes it into the water, then argues with Edward saying there is no afterlife. Angry, the boy stomps off.
Later on, the home throws a party for Edward's birthday. He's not enthused, until Clarence offers to do magic. The card tricks go well, but one where he's meant to pretend to cut off a finger goes wrong.
Edward organises a bus trip to Clarence's deceased wife's grave. His dementia begins to show, as doesn't believe it's her grave. Edwards' parents pick them up. He believes Edward's mom is his dead estranged wife, so she accepts his apology.
Clarence quietly passes away, but Edward has grown emotionally and, as his parents earlier on had had some problems, they decide to give it another try.
Cast
*
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...
as Clarence (magician)
*
Bill Milner
William Henry Milner (born 4 March 1995) is an English actor. He starred as Will Proudfoot in ''Son of Rambow'' (2007), Edward in ''Is Anybody There?'' (2008), and the young Erik Lensherr in '' X-Men: First Class'' (2011).
Early life
William ...
as Edward
*
David Morrissey
David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. Described by the British Film Institute as "one of the most versatile English actors of his generation", he is noted for the meticulous preparation and research h ...
as Dad
*
Anne-Marie Duff
Anne-Marie Duff (born 8 October 1970) is an Irish actress and narrator. She is an accomplished theatre actress and has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. She has also received acclaim and awards for her television and film work.
After ...
as Mum
*
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor, director, producer and author. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. ...
as Reg
*
Sylvia Syms
Sylvia May Laura Syms (born 6 January 1934) is an English actress, best known for her roles in the films ''Woman in a Dressing Gown'' (1957), ''Ice Cold in Alex'' (1958), ''No Trees in the Street'' (1959), ''Victim'' (1961), and ''The Tamari ...
as Lilian
*
Peter Vaughan
Peter Vaughan (born Peter Ewart Ohm; 4 April 1923 – 6 December 2016) was an English character actor known for many supporting roles in British film and television productions. He also acted extensively on the stage.
He is perhaps best known ...
as Bob
*
Thelma Barlow
Thelma Barlow (''née'' Pigott; born 19 June 1929) is an English television actress and writer, known for her roles as Mavis Wilton in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' and as Dolly Bellfield in the BBC One sitcom ''dinnerla ...
as Ena
*
Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Ann Harris (born 19 September 1927) is an English actress. She is the recipient of such accolades as a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. In ...
as Elsie
*
Elizabeth Spriggs
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist
Ships
* HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships
* ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...
as Prudence (her final performance)
Production
Shot on location in
Hastings
Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...
and
Chalfont St Giles
Chalfont St Giles is a village and civil parish in southeast Buckinghamshire, England. It is in a group of villages called The Chalfonts, which also includes Chalfont St Peter and Little Chalfont.
It lies on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, ...
.
Folkestone Central railway station
Folkestone Central railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line in England, and is the main station serving the town of Folkestone, Kent. It is down the line from London Charing Cross. All trains that call are operated by Southeastern.
...
doubled as a Yorkshire station as Clarence and Edward take a trip on the train for a day out. The sea-shelter on Princes Parade in
Hythe
Hythe, from Anglo-Saxon ''hȳð'', may refer to a landing-place, port or haven, either as an element in a toponym, such as Rotherhithe in London, or to:
Places Australia
* Hythe, Tasmania
Canada
*Hythe, Alberta, a village in Canada
England
* T ...
was used as a bus shelter in Hull. St Peter's Church of England Primary school in
Folkestone
Folkestone ( ) is a port town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour and shipping port for most of the 19th and 20t ...
was used as Edward's school in the film.
The ethereal music throughout the film was performed by David Coulter on a
musical saw
A musical saw, also called a singing saw, is a hand saw used as a musical instrument. Capable of continuous glissando (portamento), the sound creates an ethereal tone, very similar to the theremin. The musical saw is classified as a plaque f ...
.
Release
The film premiered at the
2008 Toronto International Film Festival
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of the ...
under the title ''Is There Anybody There?'' It was released in the United States on 17 April 2009 and in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2009.
, the film holds a 65% approval rating on review site
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
, based on 117 reviews with an average rating of 6.25 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, ''Is Anybody There?'' features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters."
References
External links
Official U.S. website(from Big Beach)
*
*
{{John Crowley (director)
2008 films
2008 drama films
2000s British films
2000s English-language films
BBC Film films
Big Beach (company) films
British drama films
Films about health care
Films directed by John Crowley
Films produced by David Heyman
Films set in 1987
Films shot at Elstree Film Studios
Films with screenplays by Peter Harness