It is a shame that Third star is on such a limited release because once again we have a cracking low budget indie Brit flick that few are going to get the opportunity to see.
I saw it last sunday at the Empire in Leicester Square's smallest screening room which is up lots of stairs and has a screen that seems too big for the size of the room. It was virtually sold out which meant Poly and I had to sit on the front row about two foot from the screen.
The plot does sound a little depressing and a little predictable. It's central character James played with beautiful subtlety by Benedict Cumberbatch* is 29 but dying of cancer. He wants to hike to his favourite beach in Pembrokeshire one last time and so his three childhood friends decide to take him, aided by a wheelchair come rickshaw contraption for the equipment and when he tires.
They argue, they bickered but they also joke, jape and have a lot of fun, laughs and mishaps along the way.
Of course there is a danger it could be sentimental, mawkish and melodramatic but it is none of these things. It is incredibly moving - this film has been haunting me for days - but it is also very funny and full of warmth and not quite a predictable as you think.
I'm giving it 89% for making me laugh and cry. A lot. It's not been widely reviewed, only 14 counted on Rotten Tomatoes with an aggregated score of 43% but with so few reviews the site doesn't count that as a consensus. It has an average user rating of 67% from 129 visitors.
For those that are interested, the film production blog includes some great shots.
* Benedict Cumberbatch said in an interview that he wanted to shave his head for the character of James but filming commitments meant he couldn't - he could've worn a 'bald' like he did in Frankenstein I suppose.
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