REVIEW: ALL OF US STRANGERS

4/5

Strangers Things.

105 Mins. Starring: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell & Claire Foy. Screenplay & Director: Andrew Haigh. On: Hulu & Disney +.

"Tortured Writers". That was apparently the name of the group chat Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn was in that inspired the name of her latest hit album 'The Tortured Poets Department', that like her 'Eras Tour' has taken the Summer by storm. The group chat, rumoured to also have the company of leading actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal. Make of it what you will, but the 'Fleabag' "Sexy Priest" and 'Sherlock' Moriarty star is together with the Laurence Olivier Award-winning Stanley Kowalski in a revival of Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' play, not to mention, the man set to play Paul McCartney in a movie about The Beatles, for 'All Of Us Strangers'. Strange days indeed, as Macca's mate John would say.

No one told you there'd be dreams like this. And the less said about the fantasy fever dream of Andrew Haigh's Fox Searchlight picture 'All Of Us Strangers' now streaming on Hulu, and therefore Disney Plus too, the better. And that's not because it's bad. Quite the opposite, in fact, as it deserves its flowers in a time when 'Saltburn' seems to have taken its bathwater. What? Just because people are crying, "woke" at movies and property that are evidently box-ticking for likes, hits and profit, you can't have two real stories that celebrate love in all its forms at the same time? Please! This is like when Netflix all but shelved 'Shirley' and the civil rights movement of that icon after the popularity of their Oscar worthy 'Rustin'. Sometimes a story needs to be told, no matter if people think they've seen it all before. And the key idea here? They haven't. And not just because this six time BAFTA nominee and top ten indie films of last year's National Board of Review is still an unsung hero.

It's just because if we say too much, like in all good relationships, we'll simply spoil it. And we don't want to do that in a film that is close to burning you like Mescal's mesmerizing 'Aftersun', and that's in beautiful black and white for you like Scott's new nuance Netflix take on Patricia Highsmith's 'Ripley'. Andrew's amazing acting floors you, just like Paul's powerful moments that knock you off your feet. All in evoking emotions that pound your heart until no dry eyes remain. These two talents are the past, present and future of great British films and acting acclaim. Much like supporting stars Jamie Bell ('Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool') and Claire Foy ('The Crown'), who are so heartbreakingly beautiful, we can't reveal anything more about their characters. Not just because we'll give the game away, but because we'll give way to tears.

Searchlight streaming at Mickey's house like 'Rye Lane' or an 'Empire Of Light' for your United Kingdom of film, Haigh's most revelatory work since '45 Years' is based on 'Strangers', the Japanese novel from Taichi Yamada. The 'In Search Of A Distant Voice' novelist and screenwriter (whose 'Strangers' was adapted for a second time (the first being the Japanese movie 'The Discarnates' of 1988) here by Andrew) sadly passed away last November. We hope we got to see this blossoming and beautiful tribute to his story before he passed. Because we're sure he would have been moved. We're also sure he got an early look at a film that only came out in Japan to begin this year after its August UK release ahead of the awards season it was crowned in.

Scott's London lonely screenwriter finds love with his muse in Mescal. All in the solitude of a cold concrete block of flats that seems to be inhabited by only this pair and their reflections in the mirror of the lifts that take them there. And you thought 'High-Rise was strange. But as you iron The Kinks out, "strangers on this road we are on, we are not two, we are one." And the power of love between these two characters could send Frankie back to Hollywood. Let alone keep the vampires from your door in a devoted dedication. This truly is a force from above and one you should make your goal in this life that is all about love. Man to woman. Woman to man. Woman to woman. Man to man. It's all as familiar as family. When you're strangers, all it takes is that first moment to reach across, as we try to touch. And reach for something deeper. Each and all of us. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Aftersun', 'Saltburn', 'A Ghost Story'.