While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did him a solid by selecting him as a Best Actor nominee, it does feel, in a way, that Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Notes on a Scandal) was chosen for a remarkable lengthy career rather than his performance in Oliver Hermanus (Moffie, The Endless River) underwhelming Living. While it scores high on Rotten Tomatoes (critics – 96%, audiences 86%), the film has a more realistic 7.5/10 on IMDB and 81 Metascore. Even those marks seem high for a mostly unremarkable movie. It earned just $2,000,000 domestically, which isn’t necessarily bad for an independent film but is relatively low for a movie with multiple Oscar nominations (Best Adapted Screenplay was the film’s second nomination category).
Known primarily for his supporting roles in films ranging from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise to Love Actually to Total Recall to About Time to Wrath of the Titans, Nighy is phenomenal in differing himself in his characters, refusing to be typecast into a single genre. At 74 years old, Living is the first opportunity to lead a heavy drama that was destined to, if nothing else, be in consideration for many end-of-year awards.
Living is set in post-World War II London. Mr. Williams (Nighy) heads the Department of Public Works. We are introduced to him through a conversation between four of his direct subordinates as they sit facing each other in pairs of twos on the train they take daily to the office. Peter Wakeling (Alex Sharp – The Trial of the Chicago 7, To the Bone) is Mr. Williams’s newest hire, and it is his first day. An upbeat Peter is told of Mr. Williams’ stoic disposition. Mr. Williams isn’t a bad guy by any means. Instead, he seems to lack personality and is more of a creature of habit. Dressed in a neutral-toned suit and bowler hat each day, he takes the train into the city, works, returns home in the same fashion, spends his evenings quietly, and repeats. Mr. Williams hasn’t missed a day of work in years. So when he informs his small staff of five, which consists of the four men who ride the train together and Margaret (Aimee Lou Wood – The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), that he will be leaving an hour early on that day for an appointment, it is almost received with shock and awe.
We soon learn that Mr. Williams is leaving early to attend a follow-up doctor’s appointment, where he receives the news that he has a terminal illness and has just a few months left to live. Not one to extend a wide array of emotions, Mr. Williams receives the sad news with nothing more than a slight quiver of his mouth. But, as expected, he begins examining parts of his life, both past and present, wondering what he has done to make a difference in the world and if the opportunity still exists to right any wrongs or come to peace with any regrets.
While Mr. Williams chooses to keep his diagnosis a secret, his colleagues notice a change in his personality. Instead of pushing papers from one pile to another without making any real effort to put a request into action, he makes the extra effort to have public requests addressed, most notably assisting a group of women who have come to his office, repeatedly requesting that a bomb site be converted into a children’s playground, only to be shuffled from one department or office to the next.
Mr. Williams also starts noticing the idealism and diligent dedication of his two youngest subordinates, Margaret and Peter. Perhaps, he recalls when he was a younger man and had that same drive. It’s as if they reignited a fire that he thought had forever been extinguished. Using the organizational power that he has seemed to neglect for so long, Mr. Williams has all of the needed papers processed within a single day.
His final months are spent with much introspection. He seeks to fulfill the pleasures he has missed by devoting such a large part of his life to his profession (this might ring a few bells with the film’s audience). A chance encounter with a world traveler whose goal in life is to seek pleasure. The duo is soon finding its way through the city’s nightlife, dipping in and out of arcades and nightclubs. He also creates a friendship with Margaret. Though there is a 50-year age gap between the boss and soon-to-be colleague, he wants to spend much of his remaining time with her, not in any romance, but because of her zest for life. By keeping his dire news a secret, Margaret, rightfully so, has doubts about his intentions. This man has been a mold of consistency in her life. In a single day, he has changed dramatically. Knowing she is young and beautiful, she questions why he suddenly asks her to fancy restaurants for lunch or dinner. Though she is in the dark about his secret, the rapport that the two quickly establish assures her that his intentions are pure. Mr. Williams doesn’t want to spend his final days alone. Margaret doesn’t need to know that for Mr. Williams to have peace.
Ultimately, Living is an average movie that older generations might find more compelling than younger ones. It is a film that likely wouldn’t be seen or even recognized had Nighy not received a Best Actor nomination. His performance was great, though there wasn’t a single time when I thought I was watching an Oscar-worthy performance. However, that may have been because I was committed to Williams as a living (pardon the pun) man who was processing a terminal diagnosis that any of us could receive at any time. I’m happy that Nighy has received recognition for Living. Eddie Redmayne’s performance in The Good Nurse was more deserving. Redmayne received his Oscar win (2014’s The Theory of Everything) and a nomination a year later (The Danish Girl). At 40 years old (the year that Living and The Good Nurse were released), he’ll likely receive many more nominations in his career. Much like Christopher Plummer, who didn’t receive his first Oscar nomination until he was 80 (2009’s The Last Station), the Academy seems to want to recognize as many successful careers as possible. This may be Nighy’s one opportunity to be honored among his peers on Hollywood’s most prominent stage (though Plummer went on to earn two more nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor win for 2017’s All the Money in the World. He did die two months later, though). Much love to Nighy. He’s had a great career; hopefully, he has 20 years left to entertain us.
Plot 7/10
Character Development 7/10
Character Chemistry 7/10
Acting 8/10
Screenplay 7.5/10
Directing 7/10
Cinematography 8.5/10
Sound 7/10
Hook and Reel 6/10
Universal Relevance 7/10
72%
Movies You Might Like If You Liked This Movie
- A Man Called Otto
- Field of Dreams
- Meet Joe Black
- Now Is Good
- Steel Magnolias