Realistic story about ordinary love, husband and wife in their 60s. As I watched this I found myself wondering how younger folks react to this movie. My wife and I are in a similar situation, older, retired, and long-time married. Our daily life and conversations are not that different from what is depicted Manville early 60s is Joan and Liam Neeson late 60s is her husband Tom. As the movie begins they are on one of their walks, her short legs must move almost twice as fast as his. After they cross the bridge and get to a certain tree they turn around and head back. About 12 months later the movie ends the very same between Joan discovers a lump in one of her breasts and this starts a series of doctor visits, hospital visits, treatments, and making unexpected new friends. The movie examines the relationship between the long-time married couple, their devotion to each other, their working together to get past this big speed bump in is a good movie, we enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. Romantic attraction is usually what gets a couple together but ordinary love is what keeps them together. 29 out of 32 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 7/10 Honest and heartfelt Neeson and Manville have a chemistry that I have rarely seen. Their banter their body languague everything is so believable and relatable. They share a love that is in the little things. They don't have to talk about love you can see it in the way they spend their time together. Watch them go through the worst of times always knowing that they have each other. A great movie about sacrifice, love, loyalty and hope. Honest in it's pictures and performances. 27 out of 29 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 8/10 Sometimes simple is best Sometimes keeping a film simple and not overdoing it with dramatic music or big set plays actually allows a film to resonate to a larger extent and that's certainly the case here. A reminder that Neeson is actually quite the versatile actor with the right material and a powerful lead alongside him. Emotional and a story that will likely effect most of us at sometime an intelligent, respectful yet all the powerful for it film that did not overstate or understate in any department but struck the perfect tone. Not necessarily for everyone but I for one thought it was fantastic. 26 out of 32 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 8/10 Gentle, touching, relatable A slow-paced, thoughtful, minutely-observed drama following the progress of a long-married couple after a cancer acted, the couple are as familiar to each other as a pair of warm slippers, but their relationship is strained as chemotherapy and the unspoken fear of the final separation take their toll. Hovering behind them throughout everything is the ghost of their daughter, whose death is never explained but who is never far movie does not rub our noses in medical horrors, but at the same time it faithfully chronicles the process of cancer treatment without ever resorting to Neeson is a terrific actor. Presumably, a relentlessly low-key movie such as this signifies that he's no longer interested in super-stardom if indeed he ever was and is simply doing stuff that he really wants to do. Long may it continue. 44 out of 50 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 9/10 fair portrait I saw this film for lead actors. The story, at the first sigh, is too personal . And it was one of films responding, in precise and fair manner to my expectations. Because it gives the portrait of realities behind the words. Because the acting is beautiful, the story touching and, if you have one of slice from it in your own life, you know , in dipper way , why this film is special, sure, only as sketch. A powerful love story. And a great picture of fight for survive. 16 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 6/10 Mundane, turbulent, beautiful. 'Ordinary Love 2019' is exactly what it says on the tin a portrait of mundane, turbulent, beautiful love. It charts the journey of a couple moving through tough times and is as thoughtful and nuanced as you'd hope. Its story is rather straightforward it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect, but it delivers what it needs to and feels all the more 'real' because of it. The focus of the film is something that isn't actually explored all that often and it's great to see it portrayed so sensitively here. The picture's grounded, non-'romanticised' romance is brilliant, too. It feels as close to 'real' as possible, an honest and moving exploration of love that never seems heightened or false. The two stars deliver the goods in their subtle, harder-than-you-may-expect roles, coming together as a compelling pair of, essentially, 'real people'. They have flaws and they argue but they also have an undeniable connection. When this is exploited, it's really heart-warming. When it comes down to it, though, the flick just isn't all that exciting or, perhaps, impactful. It's engaging enough and never even close to boring, but it doesn't quite hit home as hard as it ought to. It's good, don't get me wrong. I can't quite put into words what it is that is, for me, missing. I guess I'll say it like this it's good, but it's not great. 6/10 20 out of 28 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 7/10 Not your typical Hollywood cancer drama "Ordinary Love" 2019 release from the UK; 92 min. brings the story of Tom and Joan. As the movie opens, Tom and Joan are taking their daily walk along the water, and we then see them watching telly. When Joan takes a shower, she feels a lump in her left breast. She goes to the doctor and after a mammogram, she gets the news that she has cancer... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays of comments this is the latest movie from the Northern Ireland husband and wife co-directors Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Layburn. Here they examine the fallout of dealing with cancer on a long-married couple. There isn't much of a plot, other than to see whether Joan makes it through. Instead, we look at the devastating effect of dealing with cancer on their daily lives. Hospital visit after hospital visit. "I'm frightened", Joan confesses to Tom, and he tries to be supportive as best as he can, all along being frightened himself but not saying so to Joan. There are some side stories that bear out on this but which I don't want to spoil here. Just watch. What makes this movie different is that it isn't your typical Hollywood cancer drama think The Fault In Our Stars; A Walk to Remember, etc., but instead a nitty gritty look at dealing with cancer. Some scenes are difficult to watch, and other will move you to tears. The two leads are outstanding, with Leslie Manville as Joan and Liam Neeson as Tom. Neeson returns to his Northern Irish roots for this film, and thankfully stays MILES away from his recent action figure characters the "Taken" franchise, "The Commuter, "Cold Pursuit". It is easily his best role in YEARS."Ordinary Love" premiered at last Fall's Toronto International Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim, and is now getting a limited US theater release. It opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati and the Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was attended so-so 8 people in total. No, this film isn't going to amass big box office, as for that it's way too difficult to watch, but if you look behind the obvious struggles of these people, you'll notice a celebration of deep love and friendship, and indeed life itself. If that appeals to you, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater if you still can, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion. 12 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink Real and raw This film tells the mundane lives of a married couple, until their world is smashed by cancer. The plethora of emotions are portrayed very well. It is real, raw and very moving. I can relate to every scene, as they look like real life. 7/10 A quietly powerful drama Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn's 'Ordinary Love' tells exactly the story promised by its title - gently and precisely chronicles a year of crisis in the life of a most ordinary married couple. This might not sound like the most enticing formula but it is a very moving film that cuts straight to the bone and onto the heart without even trying. Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville are superb together. The terrific chemistry between the actors help elevate the story above cancer clichés or cheap sentimentality. 5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 10/10 Really good story Beautifully written I think most people can relate to this story performances are fabulous. Definitely 10/10 23 out of 37 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 7/10 Quite but Powerful Film It's a lovely, quiet movie. It's how a mature couple would respond to something as dreadful as cancer. In the end, it's their unwavering love for each other with a dash of humor, and sometimes pigheadedness, that wins the day. But, more important, in this time of challenge, they are able to reach out to others in the same and Joan are a lovely couple. Their acting is so natural, and it's what extraordinary love looks like. 4 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 9/10 It will touch your heart, break it, and uplift it all at once. THINGS I LIKED It's a beautifully made film; however, it won't be everyone's cup of tea. I love watching Liam Neeson kick bad-guy butt, but it was nice to see him as a gentle, kind husband. Lesley Manville is absolutely fantastic and should receive an Oscar nomination next year for her work in this film. She gave it her all. She was also outstanding in Phantom Thread . It was fascinating to watch her go through the ordeal that turned her life upside down, yet in one scene she tells someone she doesn't think she has changed. Some beautiful black and white silhouettes and other vignettes. Fantastic camera work that displays symbolism. It's a very slow-paced journey. The couple bickers about ordinary things in such a loving, humorous way that it feels so real. Their conversations are about nothing, yet everything. They show genuine affection and friendship that Liam and Lesley are extremely believable together. The script was very thoughtful and never overly sentimental, which it could have been. In the closing credits, you can see that a lot of research went into the writing to be accurate, realistic, and respectful. The grey color palette made you really feel the dark cloud that rolled over the couple's life. TIPS FOR PARENTSAs the movie is about breast cancer, you see a lot of shots with a topless woman from the side and back. At the 111 mark, you see full-on, topless front view. You see a couple going for a rumble in bed with sound effects. Kids will be very bored. Some adults will be too. death, funeral, tombstone scenesTHEMES If you're a woman, get a mammogram this week. Life and death Hope When one person in a family has cancer, the entire family has cancer. Grief Marriage and friendship Fear and courage Weakness and strength You can watch the rest of my movie review on YouTube on my Movie Review Mom channel! 8 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 9/10 Wonderful, Understated, Heartfelt A beautiful, restrained love story about a married couple dealing with a cancer diagnosis. It's a film that consistently refuses to romanticise the experience; this is a believable, honest and truthful portrayal of how ordinary people deal with horrible experiences - which of course makes I all the more romantic for its truthfulness. The central performances are wonderfully subtle - there's not a hint of grandstanding here - and everything else about the film is similarly understated; the cinematography, the lighting, the script, the production design ... everything works to make this a wonderfully moving but ultimately satisfying and quietly uplifting experience. 3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 9/10 The best of the ordinary Like the movie on Friday evening at cinema ,after hard working week ,nice to escape with something simple and touching. Liam Nesson is best in any role he plays 11 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 8/10 Acting masterclass! Beautifully ordinary... Liam Neeson and Leslie Manville are both just amazing, as they always are. They truly connect so well as husband and wife who've suffered loss. The story is indeed ordinary-ish but very important. Breast cancer and it's intricacies are rarely shown on screen in this aspect. Which I really appreciated and connected to. You feel as if you are in their marriage with them. If you like great acting and a realistic portrait of our daily lives, this is your movie! 5 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 9/10 Painfully realistic During the last months of her life, I helped one of my dearest friends transcribe her cancer journals. I completed the task for her after her death, and I recognized so many of her experiences in this film. The details of navigating one's personal relationships while enduring the poisonous effects of cancer treatment were among the truest I've ever seen depicted in screen. Bravo to everyone involved in putting this project together. 8 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 5/10 Nope A couple of star actors attempt to fill the gaps a poor script leaves them. Meanwhile, the director fails to spot easy to accomplish film scenes that require little other than a bit of thought and setting up that would have provided depth to this very superficial film treatment. Come on you people, are you blind? This is not an every day depiction of marital love, it is a parody of what goes on between a couple when illness intrudes. Cliche follows cliche in this film which makes it just the dreamscape background to your own thoughts as you wait for this thing to end. Ok, one of the actors takes her togs off and you get to gawp, I guess that's why you'll go. There's no other reason to. 19 out of 48 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink 7/10 Nice Little Movie Warning Spoilers As the second half of a long married 30 years older couple in it's late sixties who went through breast cancer treatment not too long ago 7 years ago and, indeed, had a breast biopsy over 20 years ago, this true to life movie resonated with comfortable watching the TV and talking through it. The daily little squabbles quickly forgiven and forgotten. The getting on each other's nerves and then the little moments of caring, affection, and love rang so big Hollywood score drowning out dialog or telling us how to feel. Just a slice of life, outlining the fear of which one of us is going to go first, of what, when, and how that plays constantly in the back of my came up on my Hulu after we watched an unexpected romance movie we thought it would be just an action/adventure film, saw Liam Neesom on the cover and decided to watch, because he's one of my favorite 1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink Pretty good Ordinary Love is a really surprising film. It's by no means a perfect film but it is a really enjoyable film with emotion done well without feeling too over the top especially for a cancer Neeson and Lesley Manville are really great here. They really do carry this film. Since it is primarily focused on these two characters and pretty much no one else. Liam Neeson is really great here and it makes me wonder why he hasn't done more action it's a very simple told very effectively. It does have a lot emotion and it really does work especially the ending. But it's definitely worth watching. 7 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Permalink