Never Let Me Go

Name: Never Let Me Go
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: September 15, 2010
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley

2010

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 260 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 260 Ratings

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Never Let Me Go: How Much Experience Have You Had Of The Outside

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: September 15, 2010 | R

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley

Summary: Kathy, Tommy and Ruth live in a world and a time that feel familiar to us, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. When they leave the shelter of the school and the terrible truth of their fate is revealed to them, they must also confront the deep feelingsKathy, Tommy and Ruth live in a world and a time that feel familiar to us, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. When they leave the shelter of the school and the terrible truth of their fate is revealed to them, they must also confront the deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to pull them apart.(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
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Director: Mark Romanek

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

This is a good movie, from a masterful novel. Read full review

Steven Rea

Dec 24, 2010

A beautifully mopey adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's much-praised novel. Read full review

Noel Murray

Best approached with little to no advance information or expectations, which is the same way the film's characters experience their lives. Read full review

Amy Biancolli

Never Let Me Go is gorgeous. And depressing. It's exquisitely acted. And depressing. It's romantic, profound and superbly crafted, shot with the self-contained radiance of a snow globe. And it's depressing. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

The subdued characters I can abide, intellectually speaking, but subdued filmmaking with material this fundamentally gut-punching is a lot less easy to swallow. Read full review

James Berardinelli

It is an accepted truth that adapting a sublime novel does not always result in a sublime movie. To an extent, this is the problem with Never Let Me Go. Read full review

David Denby

Never Let Me Go is in such good taste that we never feel any horror over the idea at the center of it. Read full review

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User Reviews

Trophysucka

Nov 7, 2010

This movie was excellent. The premise of the story intrigued me so I purchased my ticket and entered the theater with a skeptical expression. I had seen the island but I knew that this movie was approaching it from a wholly different angle, providing the aesthetic foresight accompanying theThis movie was excellent. The premise of the story intrigued me so I purchased my ticket and entered the theater with a skeptical expression. I had seen the island but I knew that this movie was approaching it from a wholly different angle, providing the aesthetic foresight accompanying the characters and their destinations. I felt immensely invested in the characters; suffice it to say Carey Mulligan's performance gripped me and elicited a strong sense of nostalgia as she progressed through the film. I seldom cry I'm movies but the story of this film, the tribulation they undergo is one that connects to the innermost rivers of emotion we experience as we face the end of something, namely life, and by the end of the film tears streamed from my eyes. The premise of the film sits on the assumption that society accepts the system presented to us in the film, and many elements of the film allow that assumption to flow quite nicely. I look forward to the novel and I encourage all to watch the movie.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

shepardn

Feb 5, 2011

i will be adding this movie to my library. it was not like all your other vampire flicks that are out their. one you can sit down and enjoy. has a good story line that can be fallowed easy so is a good movie for a crowd of adults. or just snuggled up on the couch on a snowy day.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

StevieGJD

Oct 23, 2010

This is a melancholy and brooding movie with very good acting. There are two stories simultaneously going on. The first has to do with the Orwellian government's purpose for the existence of the main characters. The second is about a jealous and petty girl who intentionally thwarts theThis is a melancholy and brooding movie with very good acting. There are two stories simultaneously going on. The first has to do with the Orwellian government's purpose for the existence of the main characters. The second is about a jealous and petty girl who intentionally thwarts the development of a relationship involving her friend, only to try and make up for it later in her life. The contra-position of these two stories is very interesting. The movies Coma and The Island both dealt with the Orwellian part of this movie's story, both in a completely different (and I would say less successful) way. Those movies assumed that what was happening was so horrible that all one has to do is expose it for it to stop. This movie assumes that it is accepted by society. It ends up being a fresh and unique take on the subject. Well worth seeing and very thought provoking.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

rosstheboss2000

Aug 8, 2016

Not a feel-good movie at all, which isn't a bad thing. The plot was very good, and this movie did a good job of presenting it clearly. I just wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hanneguacamole

Nov 20, 2015

Never Let Me Go never had the chance at being the same book and movie – the very elements and intricacies of conversation that contributed to the book's allure were those that were completely ignored in the movie. Perhaps I'm an unfair critic, basing my rating on similarities between a bookNever Let Me Go never had the chance at being the same book and movie – the very elements and intricacies of conversation that contributed to the book's allure were those that were completely ignored in the movie. Perhaps I'm an unfair critic, basing my rating on similarities between a book and its dramatization, but on it's own, I completely understand the movie. No mystery, but it served its purpose – like the clones put in their place. The odd relationships that form between these carers and donors and their relation to society are the star – as they entirely should be. The movie also raises questions about true love and morality with a unique take.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

chromate

Dec 20, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I wonder how a movie can feel fast paced yet drag on at the same time. Probably because this film might have a storyline, but it doesn't have a plot. What I mean by this is that the film unravels in a sequence of time jumps between main characters Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy's childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, but it hard to see the relevance of each time frame when the characters don't develop-- and so the connection between points on a story line to the overarching plot is lost. Their lack of growth could be intentional to highlight the fact that they are purposefully underdeveloped, but writers give no explanation to their reluctance to break free after "the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them," like the synthesis describes. This is a theme that I noticed throughout the film. Each of the characters, with possible exception to Ruth, don't take influence from anything or anyone around them. When Ruth is the extroverted friend, she has no effect on introverts Tommy and Kathy. This makes it hard to see the relationships between these "best friends," and why they are so close. It begs me to question, why have the character of Ruth anyways? She "keeps" Tommy and Kathy away from each other, but they don't seem to keep their distance. And when Tommy expresses the indifference in his feelings for Ruth, he doesn't do anything about it. Another theme that confuses me. First, the characters aren't even forced to experience thrill in the adventure of learning the truth themselves when their teacher, Ms. Lucy, tells them flat out. But still, they don't do anything about it? It would've been easier to accept if there was a reason, but the fact is just brushed over. These teens who seem so curious and angry about their destined futures don't ask nearly enough questions or look for answers. It makes it hard to connect with the characters and feel emotion when their fate comes. Characters are underdeveloped, and relationships even more. The only positive thing about this movie is that I have a soft spot for the cast members, but with bad writing even good actors can't redeem it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MorriBey

Apr 24, 2011

I suffered thru the first 20 minutes, skipped a bit forward and suffered some more. It just drags along and it must expect that its audience has an immense reserve of patience as i had to cut it short. Perhaps something happens in the movie but i would rather read the summary than having toI suffered thru the first 20 minutes, skipped a bit forward and suffered some more. It just drags along and it must expect that its audience has an immense reserve of patience as i had to cut it short. Perhaps something happens in the movie but i would rather read the summary than having to endure such a slow death.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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83	#83 Most Discussed Movie of 2010
48	#48 Most Shared Movie of 2010