[6.75/10] Cemetery Junction (2010)

Cemetery Junction (2010)

"Cemetery Junction" is simple and slow-moving, yet gripping and thoughtfully enjoyable. It's about three young men, who are best friends, all feel trapped in a small rural English town in the early 70s, and make plans to break out. The story is a poignant one with teary moments and a love story thrown in for good measure and it all flows to a great soundtrack. Screenwriters /directors Gervais and Stephen Merchant have done a fantastic job writing a story, that is both funny when it needs to be funny, and emotional when it needs to be emotional. What both directors do well here, is that they take time and with great effect to develop each character's story. Speaking of characters, they work very well together – there's an engaging chemistry between the three relatively unknown actors. Christian Cooke plays Freddie Taylor, the boy hoping to leave behind the factory work of his father. Tom Hughes is wonderful as the rebellious Bruce, and Jack Doolan as Snork, is hilarious as he's charming, playing the hapless station announcer. As always Ralph Fiennes plays a great 'villain' - a self-obssessed, steeped in arrogance boss of an insurance company, with subtle underplaying from Emily Watson as his oppressed wife. Technically, the film is marvelously-crafted - the cinematography is wonderful, with all the scenes look and feel like they are shot in the 70s. Despite its cliched story, "Cemetery Junction" is nicely-shot, well-acted, heartfelt and uplifting coming of age drama, that deserves to be seen. One of the better UK films this year!

• My Rating: 6.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 62% (5.9/10)
• IMDb: 7.2/10