20140114: Comedy Review--In a Day

In a Day

1. Fundamentals, reception.
1. British live action feature length film, 2006, NR, 84 minutes, comedy, indie,
2. IMDB: 7.0/10.0 from 846 audience ratings. Aspect 1.85
3. Rotten Tomatoes: 'No score yet,' 65% liked it from 429 audience ratings.
4. Netflix: 3.4/5.0 from 171,235 audience ratings.
5. Written and directed by:  Evan Richards.
6. Starring: Lorraine Pilkington as Ashley Branstead, Finlay Robertson as Michael, Rose Keegan as Judith, Jake Broker as Sammy, Nolan Hemmings as Jasper.


2. Setup and Plot
1. Ashley's day starts badly with an extended interaction with a male aggressor whom she walks away from.  He throws hot coffee on her.  Michael intervenes.


2. Ashley and Michael are both out of work, and get to know each other over tea, then over clothes shopping for Michael's sister.  This was at an haute couture establishment where they were the only customers.  Michael pays for this.  They have a decadent meal at his expense.  Then he demonstrates his 'premonitions.'


3. They visit Michael's sister on her not-so-happy birthday.  They hike through an arboretum of some size, during which Michael carried Ashley pick-a-back.  They talk and visit an old site of Michael's graffiti writing.


4. Michael asks Ashley to decide the next thing that they together.  She asks him to buy a used saxophone for her musician friend.  They give the gift, and find out how her friend lost his earlier sax.  Ashley sings and plays piano with her friend.


5. They go for a drink.  The man who started Ashley's day badly by throwing coffee on her is in the bar.  Ashley points him out, then Michael observes him.  Michael faces him down in a very public way, then returns to Ashley. Turns out the bad guy is a solicitor for abused women.


6. Michael and Ashley have a beer, and Michael tells her why he wanted her to have a nice day.  They had known each other as children. Michael had been rather bad to her then and was hoping to apologise to her now.


7. Will Ashley sort this out?  Will Michael let it go?


3. Conclusions
1. One line summary: Slow, endearing, thoughtful.
2. Four stars of five.


4. Scores
1. Cinematography: 8/10 A little fuzzy, but mostly good.


2. Sound: 8/10 A bit soft on conversations, but mostly good.


3. Acting: 8/10 Rather nice.  The two principals were quite good.


4. Screenplay: 10/10 Lovely story, well told.