Michael Caine wonders: Is Anybody There?
Who? Michael Caine (old), Bill Milner (young), Anne-Marie Duff (tired), David Morrissey (mullet), Leslie Phillips (crude), Thelma Barlow (Coronation Street) What’s it about? Caine is Clarence, a depressed, old ex-magician with Alzheimer’s who hates that he’s nearing death and resents being moved to an old people’s home. During his stay he meets Edward (Bill Milner), the son of the couple who own the home, who is obsessed with death, ghosts, the paranormal and anything vaguely related to the afterlife. Clarence and Edward form an unlikely friendship, and find each other inspiring and infuriating in equal measure. What’s good about it? 76-year-old Michael Caine is a miracle and does an incredible job as a bitter, cantankerous old bastard who feels like he’s wasted the best years of his life by not pouring enough love on his dead wife. 14-year-old Bill Milner (of Son of Rambow fame) is also superb, and the bringing together of the oldest and youngest strands of British acting talent works
