Prue Peters

Really loved this! Little bit slow for me to get going but it had a gentle pace throughout; outstanding scenery and atmosphere capture by film team - just so beautiful. Total escape from the world today and much needed. The actors were terrific - each in their own way. Tim Key portrayed the excitable and totally lovable lottery winner who filled every shy moment with more and more words. Tom Based played the slightly entitled impatient folk singer and Carey Mulligan the other half of the ex-duo with subtlety, gentleness and a beautiful singing voice. Whilst these are the key figures, the other two main characters really added to the story and left me with a tear in my eye - especially the ending. Please can we have more film like this... please. They pulled it off without making it the usual cheese (like the Irish ones that have been out recently - donkeys and thatched cottages and lots of aprons). Just how you should leave the cinema - full of feelings - and this time especially, happy ones. Thanks you everyone involved.

Very disappointed and on-and-off bored by this film. Everything was spelled out for the viewer; awful cliches (good old Granddad.... oh no?! what's that? slight cough and hospital appointment? Wonder what that means?); the policeman's 'serious' act over the Turkish Delight 'crime'. ("Just like they did in those days so we hear"), the Omo - let's put a laugh in here. The film was superficial; about great black and white filming, honed acting but it all tried too hard to look like it hadn't tried too hard. I squirmed in my seat. The bit where the elder son threw a brick to his Dad to throw at the gun toting man.... so corny. Oh yes and regular parallels to cowboy films. Compare this to the rawness of a Mike Leigh film where there is mood and subtlety and authenticity. My partner thought it was great by the way.