Juliet, Naked

"Ugh I look like a floating head again."

Nick Hornby's books all feel a bit similar to a lot of readers. Stories about flawed male protagonists who you simultaneously enjoy while wanting to kick. About A Boy was the story of the rudderless and self centred Will. High Fidelity was about the selfish and obsessive Rob. Fever Pitch was about the childish and obsessive Paul and Long Way Down's main character was Martin, a self destructive fuck up. There's a theme here isn't there. The first 3 books mentioned here were made into fine films, About A Boy & High Fidelity especially. Films that would madden you while making you laugh. Now it's the turn of his 2009 book 'Juliet, Naked' to be adapted to film. Hey! Guess what? Among the main characters are a couple of obsessive & messed up men again. I'll bet you didn't see that coming. Is it any good though??

Duncan and Annie are a couple living in a seaside town in England. Their relationship has been coasting along for a while and Duncan is far more interested in his obsessive fandom of an American singer called Tucker Crowe than he is in poor Annie. Obsessive being an understatement. One day Annie posts a criticism of Tucker on Duncan's website that catches the eye of the singer. He contacts her and they connect online. Tucker's own life is a messy disaster and now it's going to get even more complicated.

I hated the first 15 minutes of this as I assumed Duncan was going to be the main character. Played way too effectively by Chris O'Dowd he's a horrible piece of work. A know it all, a pain, the kind of gobshite you'd dread being stuck beside in a pub. He's an avatar for modern pop culture fandom. The kind of fan who's obsessive need to dissect every single aspect of the thing he loves is enough to ruin that very thing for others. And the kind of character who could ruin a film quickly. It's rare I hate an Irish actor in a part but by his second or third bout of mansplaining and condescension I was ready to walk.

Thankfully he steps out of the spotlight and the focus of the film falls on Annie and Tucker and it's here the film begins to flourish. Annie looking back on a lifetime of missed opportunities and Tucker trying to press the restart button on a disaster of life. Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke are a joy together and their scenes just flow. Both of them using their chats with each other to fill in what's missing from their own lives. Rose, affecting a pretty flawless English accent is great to watch. There always seems to be a sadness just lurking under the surface ready to consume her. Hawke, who over the years has turned into one of the most interesting actors of his generation is in super form too. Regret written all over his face and jumping at the chance to feel human again. Two characters you just can't help but like and you'll spend the film hoping the story will bring them together. Life though. Life's an awkward bastard at times.

I liked this a lot. It feels genuine and it's populated with characters who come off as real, horribly so at times. It's lean, economic, funny in places, brutal in others and with an air of melancholy drizzled on top. A hospital set moment where Tucker's past comes back to haunt him is at once hilarious and horrible. Funny in it's escalating madness but saddening when you see the effects it's having on Rose and Tucker. The whole film is a pretty scathing indictment of men and their worst excesses. Tucker's extreme lack of responsibility and Duncan's obsessions. It's what Nick Hornby does best. Presents us with male characters you'll laugh with at first until you realise that errrr wait, these are pretty shitty people. A lot of folk will shudder when what they see onscreen hits a bit too close to home.

This is well worth a watch. It's different from the bubbly meet cute romantic comedies of late and all the more refreshing for it. In cinemas now.