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Movies / On DVD / Is Anybody There?
Is Anybody There?

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Is Anybody There? (2009)

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Reviews Counted:114

Fresh:75

Rotten:39

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, Is Anybody There? features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for language including sexual references, and some disturbing images.

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Apr 17, 2009 Limited

Box Office: $1,988,165

Synopsis: Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while... Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while maintaining a sardonic wit and sincere warmth. Coming of age in a family-run rest home, the reclusive, death-obsessed Edward (Bill Milner, SON OF RAMBOW) wiles away his days tormenting his parents’ elderly residents and secretly tape-recording them in search of answers about the afterlife. Edward finds a kindred spirit in Clarence (Michael Caine), the curmudgeonly, retired magician who begrudgingly takes up residence at the guest home. The two strike up an unlikely friendship that helps Clarence come to terms with losing his wife, and Edward finds a way out of his shell. Milner holds his own alongside veteran Caine with a biting yet charming performance. Anne-Marie Duff (NOTES ON A SCANDAL) and David Morrissey (BASIC INSTINCT 2) offer up moving support as Edward’s working-class parents, who struggle to hold onto their marriage while making ends meet. The colorful cast of senior citizens, which includes seasoned actors Rosemary Harris (Aunt May from the SPIDERMAN films) and Karl Johnson (HOT FUZZ, ROME), provides some of the film's most melancholy and comic moments. Along with stellar performances from the impressive ensemble, IS ANYBODY THERE? is well-scripted and beautifully shot. Though it deals with some of life’s toughest moments, this is a film that is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages. [More]

Starring: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey

Starring: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey, Rosemary Harris, Karl Johnson, Leslie Phillips, Elizabeth Spriggs

Director: John Crowley

Director: John Crowley
Screenwriter: Peter Harness
Producer: David Heyman, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf
Composer: Joby Talbot
Studio: Big Beach Films

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Release:

Nov 17, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Subtitles - Spanish
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Is Anybody There?

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Is Anybody There? proves that talent, not age, will ultimately define successful acting careers.

Full Review Source: FHM [UK] | comment Comment
05/01/09
FHM [UK]

Only the amusing attention to Eighties detail, such as Morrissey’s New Romantic mullet haircut, and an entertaining grumpy old man impression from Caine keep the film alive. But any laughs are drowned out by predictable melodrama.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
05/01/09
Sun Online

It's a film to respect or admire from a distance, rather than like or, you know, actually enjoy.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/01/09
Ali Catterall
Ali Catterall
Channel 4 Film

Director John Crowley takes this whimsical film in some nice directions and gets plenty of value from his supporting cast of top senior talent.

Full Review Source: Scotsman | comment Comment
05/01/09
Alistair Harkness
Alistair Harkness
Scotsman

The film unfolds with such a fine balance of charm, humour and heartache that it is impossible to resist.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
05/01/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

a bittersweet film about life, death, and magic. It's also one of Michael Caine's best performances, and that's saying a great deal

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
05/09/09
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

It wants so badly to be meaningful, relevant and compassionate, but struggles even to keep our attention, never mind our hearts or minds. Not even Michael Caine's slowly sinking geriatric Clarence or affecting young Bill Milner can elevate the material.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
05/27/09
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile

Caine is flawless here, giving audiences one of his finest performances to date.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
04/20/09
Ben Lyons
Ben Lyons
At the Movies

There are a lot of other sweet, tender moments in this film and it never felt maudlin in any way to me.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
04/20/09
Ben Mankiewicz
Ben Mankiewicz
At the Movies

Is Anybody There? conjures up a winning concoction of laughs, tears and '80s nostalgia. Above all, it showcases the breadth of British acting talent.

Full Review Source: Digital Spy | comment Comment
05/01/09
Ben Rawson-Jones
Ben Rawson-Jones
Digital Spy

A finely drawn and gentle British drama propelled by another of the star's unforgettable screen portraits.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
04/17/09
Betsy Sharkey
Betsy Sharkey
Los Angeles Times

At once predictable and implausible; so overplotted and overpopulated that the question isn't so much Is Anybody There? as "Why on earth are so many bodies here?"

Full Review Source: NPR | comment Comment
04/16/09
Bob Mondello
Bob Mondello
NPR
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This thoughtful, well-crafted, modest little film is a pleasing example of generational intersections and the wisdom that flows both directions.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
04/24/09
Brandon Fibbs
Brandon Fibbs
Christianity Today

Crowley is heading for a note of sympathy with this stuttering tale of universal heartache, but without needed substance and focus, there's nothing to emotionally devour.

Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com | comment Comment
04/30/09
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com

With two direct and developed lead performances from Michael Caine and young Bill Milner, it seems unfair to watch their efforts wasted on an uneven, unsatisfying picture like the tear-jerker Is Anybody There?

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
06/01/09
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
Dark Horizons

There's a touch of magic at play here but it is of the understated variety, delivering a finale that is unexpectedly hopeful, moving and emotionally satisfying.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
05/15/09
Bruce Demara
Bruce Demara
Toronto Star

Working from a screenplay by Peter Harness, director John Crowley elicits strong performances and conjures a realistic atmosphere. But the story is predictable.

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
05/08/09
Calvin Wilson
Calvin Wilson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Unfortunately, nothing else in Is Anybody There? quite equals the main performances. There are nice moments throughout, but it meanders a bit. We learn a little about the other residents, but not enough to invest emotionally.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
04/30/09
Cathy Jakicic
Cathy Jakicic
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Whether by accident or design, Is Anybody There? shares its youthful lead and ‘80s setting with funny, inventive Son Of Rambow. It hasn’t emerged from its shadow.

comment Comment
05/01/09
Charles Gant
Charles Gant
Heat Magazine

For a movie about dying, Is Anybody There? is surprisingly sweet.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
05/01/09
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
 
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Latest News for Is Anybody There?

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