Forget Me Never

Mia Farrow gives an excellent performance in this rare TV outing. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role as a woman suffering from the onset of Alzheimer's disease. It is so realistic that, at times, it is difficult to watch but the viewer is rewarded with a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this film.

I remember seeing a film years ago with Mia Farrow about woman with memory problems. At this time I wasn't aware of Alzheimer's or dementia or that people of a younger age would have the condition. Now of course me, my friends, neighbours, relatives all have someone with this illness. I recently found the film on YouTube.

All I remember from the film was Mia's character in the doctors office recognising a connection with a map on the wall behind him and going home and checking through her mothers stuff. It was such a powerful scene.

Throughout the film we then see Diane (Mia's character) experiencing bouts of memory loss and anxiety. Her character is in a high-powered job and it's so sad to see her decline. I'm not too fussed here about giving further information as another review has told us the whole film.

Shame about the extremely annoying and loud music which drowned out most of the dialogue.

Look out for her son - I thought (but knew it couldn't be) Chris Martin from Coldplay at first.

I've ordered Diane's book; Living Through The Labrynth.

I haven't seen too many movies about Alzheimer's disease. I know it's tragic; I don't need Julianne Moore to tell me about it. I love Mia Farrow, though, so I decided to sit through her TV movie about early-onset Alzheimer's.

Forget Me Never includes all the symptoms of the disease, including disorientation, confusion, forgetfulness, and mood swings. My favorite part of the film was how Mia's character gets away with hiding her disease for so long. It's clever and very realistic. Her husband Martin Sheen just thinks she's overworked and distracted; her kids think she's not prioritizing everyday tasks. Since she's so young, no one suspects she might have something wrong with her. "It's in the—the place where I keep all my clothes," Mia says, because she's forgotten the word "closet". Her daughter doesn't notice.

While the other films about this disease focus on the later, difficult stages, Forget Me Never covers the beginning of it, which, it proves, is difficult in its own way. Martin isn't prepared for this marital problem, and he isn't equipped to handle it. He gives a great and realistic performance as a regular Joe who hasn't really accepted the dropping bombshell. Mia is fantastic; she more than earned her Golden Globe nomination for the role. She expresses every emotion perfectly, without hamming it up and making it obvious she's playing for audience sympathy, like other actors have done in similar roles. Your heart will break for her in her fear, determination, fight, sadness, and uncertainty.

Looking at the disease of alzheimers, "Forget Me Never" is a subjective view of the problem with Woody Allen's ex-wife, Mia Farrow as the protagonist. She gives a very good performance and actually makes us believe that she has the disease. But that made-for-TV quality is very hard. Other than the performance, there isn't anything spectaculur or in the least memorable about "Forget Me Never".

Martin Sheen doesn't do much with his role that has been seen in countless other movies. The film gets an average score on most levels, as there's nothing remarkable about the camera techniques, script, art direction, etc. This is easy to sit through and easy to comprehend, but just as easy to forget about. It is based on a true story so it has some facts to stick to.

Overall, this is a passable drama. Nothing bad about it but there isn't much brilliant about it. 5.1/10.

Mia Farrow's devoted performance shines through in almost every scene. She portrays Diana's confusion, worry, and feelings of unfair vulnerability at an impressive level.

The screenplay and limited budget are unfortunately what brings the movie down in most other regards; some of the other actors aren't putting in as much effort and it unfortunately shows. The dialogue is sometimes too functional and expository. Martin Sheen does what he can with Jack's more cliché character and limited story focus, but he eventually does bring out the notes of warmth that his character grows into, effectively.

There are some interesting shots here and there, particularly when Diana is at the Governor's Reception and she briefly appears to be alone in a large hall, assailed by a cacophony of chattering voices before being brought back to the moment by the guiding touch of a colleague. Other than this and a few other moments the cinematography is functional albeit mostly mundane.

The score is simple and effective, but not exceptional. More typical instrumentation gives way to disorienting whirring whereever Diana loses her senses, it's simple but effective at bringing the audience into how Diana is feeling and struggling. The score carries a singularly melancholic flute melody that is reincorporated throughout the story during reflective moments and is rather touching.

Overall it's probably one of the better made-for-TV movies, especially for Lifetime, and Diana McGowin who's biography the film is based on couldn't have asked for a more empathetic and genuine portrayal. If you're interested in seeing a story about a person who's life is changed enormously by Alzheimer's and how they try to adapt and function in spite of it all, Forget Me Never is worth watching and absorbing. Although to be fair given the movie's age and relative obscurity, if you're here you've probably already seen it.