Together

James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan are brilliant in this exploration of lockdown dynamics. Writer Dennis Kelly uses the camera, and therefore the audience, as a kind of silent therapist for the characters, a married couple who may be are or may be not at the end of their relationship. There are some bravura solos and duets, carefully charted by director Stephen Daldry. The whole thing is both highly artificial and entirely natural, a real triumph for all concerned. I had a couple of reservations about one of Horgan's monologues -- the writing, not the performing -- in that it felt a bit more like a newspaper column than a speech, but that apart I was grateful for the sheer quality of what I was watching. It's a relief to be treated as an adult.

What a great idea to document a time in our lives through fiction but in real time.

I laughed and cried throughout the whole thing. It showed so much of the everyday lives of all of living through this pandemic and touched on so many issues. Absolutely gorgeous acting and very funny. Would make a great play.

IN A NUTSHELL:

The official summary of this dark comedy movie from Bleeker Street says: "This is the story of a family, like so many, who found a way to survive - together. It is the hilarious and heartbreaking story of a husband and wife who are forced to re-evaluate themselves and their relationship through the reality of lockdown." The movie is directed by Academy Award-nominated Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin.

Speaking about the movie, writer Dennis Kelly explains: "Together is about a couple who totally hate each other, but have somehow found a way of existing together by not talking to, thinking about, noticing, communicating with or being in the same room as each other - then lockdown happens. It's about how humans negotiate their shared experiences when they think they have nothing in common other than staying alive, and it's about how you can hate what you love and love what you hate. And Sharon Horgan and James McAvoy are brilliant in it."

THINGS I LIKED:

I LOVE LOVE James McAvoy and think he's such an incredibly talented actor. He gives a fantastic performance in this, as expected. The truth is that he's a brilliant chameleon of an actor. Some actors play the same character in all of their films, but he absolutely doesn't. To me, that's true acting.

When James McAvoy learned that Sharon Horgan would be cast in the role opposite him, he said it was a no-brainer to join the project.

I think the first time Sharon Horgan was on my radar was when I saw her in MILITARY WIVES. She is an equal match for McAvoy which is an impressive feat.

I appreciated the little details from the very beginning such as the stockpiling of toilet paper we see in the first scene, the evolution of mask-wearing, and changing artwork on the wall created by the son who is partly being homeschooled during the pandemic, etc.

Hidden among the ugly zingers about each other are sweet compliments and sparks of true love between these two people.

Super entertaining writing by Tony Award-winner Dennis Kelly. It's emotionally raw, brutally honest, witty, and real. The amount of lines that need to be memorized and delivered by the two actors is astounding. The movie was shot in only 10 days.

The characters' names are "He" and "She" because they represent all of us and what we have all gone through during the pandemic this past year.

Stephen Daldry has created some truly unique films with touching lessons and insights like The Hours, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

The last conversation the couple had was touching and I thought the final shot of the neighboring kids jumping on their trampolines was perfect.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

It would be exhausting to have to be locked down in quarantine with these people. Most people would prefer getting Covid to spending more time with them.

I feel guilty because my family's quarantine experience has been VERY different from what this movie portrays, almost peaceful and enjoyable, despite the horrifying numbers of deaths and fear humanity has gone through all around me.

Some viewers won't enjoy how the actors break the 4th wall and talk directly to the camera with no explanation of who the third person is supposed to be.

Some viewers won't be interested in watching this because they'll feel like they already experienced it for themselves.

I felt so bad for the son, Artie, to have to live in such a toxic environment.

I thought the closing song choice was odd.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be totally bored.

Profanity, including many F-bombs.

The couple talks about their intimate relations.

There is quite a bit of political talk. He and She have completely different political philosophies and the writer's own perspective peeks through in moments.

l.

Fabulous concept and delivery by two of our finest actors. I'm a sucker for anything that Sharon Horgan does and this doesn't disappoint. Shades of the relationship she developed with Rob Delaney in Catastrophe but with a more serious observation on the human condition.

James Macavoy is simply superb and his performance reminded me of those delivered by Martin Sheen and David Tennant in Staged.

All in all brilliant script, concept and delivery.

Sharon Horgan and James McAvoy acting together, with a screenplay by Dennis Kelly (who worked on the script for Utopia), and directed by Stephen Daldry. What a line-up! I am trying to watch it, but the constant acting to camera, and angrily moaning about the relationship, is wearing. Everything else is excellent - camerawork, sound, lighting, physical direction, costumes, make-up, editing, and everyone else in the team doing a superb job. I just wish the script was less about complaints, and there was no speaking to camera. It is like being harangued.