Me Without You (DVD)

...the 80s and this reminded me a tiny bit of me and my best friend. But that was as far as it went for me. Once the drugs started and the arguments, I started to lose a bit of interest. The friendship becomes claustrophobic and events in Marina’s life spiral out of control and Holly is left to pick up the pieces. Holly becomes the stronger character, realising that Marina has leaned on her far too much in the past and now she wants to break away from ...
...end tell us that this film was loosely based on a friendship that she’d had herself as a young girl. It carried on into her teenage years and eventually became an obsessive bond.

The fashions are a bit of a flashback for me. Yes we really wore horrible clothes like that! And now they’re back in the shops, err no ... we won’t be going there again! The nasty dyed hair, shapeless baggy jumpers, ripped tights and fingerless gloves brought ... more

Step back in time to 1973. Marina (Anna Friel )and Holly (Michelle Williams) are young girls and they make a pact to stay friends ‘forever’. Fast forward to 1978, the girls are bored teenagers, lazing about bored and smoking. Marina’s parents are glamourous, her mum (played by Trudie Styler) lets them use her make up, and her dad (Nicky Henson) flits in and out of their lives when he pleases. Marina has an older brother, Nat (Oliver Milburn). Holly has a crush on him.

Holly is mousey and studious. Marina is her complete opposite. She’s the leader, the outrageous one that takes care of things. She leads her friend astray, taking her to parties where they sneak out and change into rather dubious clothing (what looked like rubber bin bags - I’m sure I never wore anything like that, but I could be wrong!) and to make themselves look grown up, they give each other love bites. No comment.

This is when the film took a bit of a turn for me. They get to the party and there’s a few guys there who are into drugs and Marina is soon being injected. I have to say I didn’t really like this, (OK I admit it, I'm a prude!) and obviously if you do watch this film and you have kids around, this isn’t one for them. At the same party, Holly finds herself in bed with Nat. Marina comes round from her drug induced haze and sees them together, and inevitably they argue.

Fast forward again to 1982 – Nat’s in love with Isobel and moves abroad for a while. Marina sports rather nasty blonde hair with black roots and wears long jumpers and invisible skirts. Both girls are at uni and both fancy their tutor, Daniel (Kyle Maclachlan). He ends up bedding both of them with both girls oblivious to what he’s doing. Then Nat comes back. And everything changes.

* Characters *

Marina is the rebel, the one who craves affection because she doesn’t get it from her own family. Anna Friel plays her part well as the flirty friend who Holly looks up to. The viewer is left to wonder if Marina is actually jealous of Holly as she seems to delight in trying to ruin any happiness for her best friend.

Holly is the quiet one, the plain one who wants to be like her best friend but can never quite match up. Michelle Williams shines as Holly. For those who don’t know her, she plays Jen in Dawson’s Creek, although you’ll be hard pushed to recognise her as dowdy Holly! I also think she may have gone to the Bridget Jones Academy of Accents, in that her English accent does slip up from time to time! However, she does a commendable job.

* My thoughts *

The beginning of the film was promising. I was a teenager in the 80s and this reminded me a tiny bit of me and my best friend. But that was as far as it went for me. Once the drugs started and the arguments, I started to lose a bit of interest. The friendship becomes claustrophobic and events in Marina’s life spiral out of control and Holly is left to pick up the pieces. Holly becomes the stronger character, realising that Marina has leaned on her far too much in the past and now she wants to break away from her.

The director’s production notes at the end tell us that this film was loosely based on a friendship that she’d had herself as a young girl. It carried on into her teenage years and eventually became an obsessive bond.

The fashions are a bit of a flashback for me. Yes we really wore horrible clothes like that! And now they’re back in the shops, err no ... we won’t be going there again! The nasty dyed hair, shapeless baggy jumpers, ripped tights and fingerless gloves brought the memories flooding back!

The two main characters are very strong and their performances alone keep the film going. Other mentions go to Trudie Styler (Mrs Sting) and Kyle Maclachlan who is the slippery and untrustworthy teacher.

So, did I like the film? Well it was OK. This was a gritty look at life in the 80s. It wasn’t all sugared up to be a ‘best buddy’ movie. This was very much a ‘Brit’ film rather than a shmulzy Hollywood movie. This was hard hitting, with drug scenes (and partial nudity), betrayal and family issues all getting in the way. But this is also about friendship and love. So it’s a chick flick with a difference.

The film ends in 2001 – are Holly and Marina still friends? Well you’ll have to watch the film to find out.

* Soundtrack features *

The Clash, Depeche Mode, Echo and the Bunnymen and Adam and the Ants. Plus others!

* Extras *

set up (commentary on/off, subtitles on/off)
trailer
production notes (quite interesting if you want to find out how the director got the idea to write the screenplay)

* Other info *

Rated 15
Year: 2001
107 mins
Director – Sandra Goldbacher
BAFTA nominated Best British Film

I’m going to award this 3 stars. I got this dvd free with a magazine and I’m glad I didn’t fork out money for it. However it is selling at www.play.com for £5.99 at the moment, which isn’t exactly expensive if you do want a copy. Some parts were dragged out and ending up being boring. Other parts were amusing and the Holly/Nat on/off relationship keeps the viewer interested.

However, if you were around in the 80s or just want to step back in time, then grab yourself some popcorn and settle down for a night in front of the box!

Please note – there were no special effects.

Thanks for reading.
 

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