(2001)
3.5
Josh Ralske
Sandra Goldbacher's Me Without You is a fond, bittersweet look at how one childhood friendship, begun in the 1970s, evolves over the ensuing decades. The filmmakers excel at capturing the look and spirit of the times, particularly the late '70s and early '80s. Almost all of the pop culture references in the film are amusingly accurate. The film also has an exuberant, energetic pop feel, although the film's subject matter (essentially a dissolving friendship, poisoned by frequent betrayals) is occasionally depressing. Michelle Williams (Dick) demonstrates further range, playing a bookish, Jewish, and -- most impressively -- English girl. Williams' accent is solid, so it's never a distraction. This is a very sympathetic and graceful performance. In fact, Holly's so charming and sweet in her low-key way that it throws the film slightly off-balance, because Anna Friel's Marina, Holly's best friend, is such a self-serving, duplicitous monster. Such people do exist; it's true. And the friendship between Holly and Marina isn't completely one-sided, particularly when they're younger, and Marina draws Holly out of her shell. But because Holly is portrayed as comparatively saintly, the film becomes, for the audience, an impatient wait for poor Holly (and the object of her affection, Marina's brother, Nat, played by the appealing Oliver Milburn) to figure things out. This gives the film a slightly masochistic edge. Still, there's a wealth of insight and humor in the script. Me Without You is an engaging look at how friendship can endure, even when it doesn't serve either party's best interests.
releases for Me Without You on AllMovie
Me Without You (2001)
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Title/Studio |
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Me Without You
Tva Films
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October 25, 2007 |
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Me Without You
Columbia TriStar
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June 17, 2003 |
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Me Without You
Momentum Pictures
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October 14, 2002 |