As a vehicle for Caine to do the crotchety old man routine...doesn't offer many new wrinkles to the mix.
Is Anybody There? (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:114
Fresh:75
Rotten:39
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, Is Anybody There? features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters.
Australian Theatrical Release:
Jun 4, 2009 Wide
US Box Office: $1,988,165
Synopsis: Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while... Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while maintaining a sardonic wit and sincere warmth. Coming of age in a family-run rest home, the reclusive, death-obsessed Edward (Bill Milner, SON OF RAMBOW) wiles away his days tormenting his parents’ elderly residents and secretly tape-recording them in search of answers about the afterlife. Edward finds a kindred spirit in Clarence (Michael Caine), the curmudgeonly, retired magician who begrudgingly takes up residence at the guest home. The two strike up an unlikely friendship that helps Clarence come to terms with losing his wife, and Edward finds a way out of his shell. Milner holds his own alongside veteran Caine with a biting yet charming performance. Anne-Marie Duff (NOTES ON A SCANDAL) and David Morrissey (BASIC INSTINCT 2) offer up moving support as Edward’s working-class parents, who struggle to hold onto their marriage while making ends meet. The colorful cast of senior citizens, which includes seasoned actors Rosemary Harris (Aunt May from the SPIDERMAN films) and Karl Johnson (HOT FUZZ, ROME), provides some of the film's most melancholy and comic moments. Along with stellar performances from the impressive ensemble, IS ANYBODY THERE? is well-scripted and beautifully shot. Though it deals with some of life’s toughest moments, this is a film that is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages. [More]
Starring: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey
Starring: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey, Rosemary Harris, Karl Johnson, Leslie Phillips, Elizabeth Spriggs
Director: John Crowley
Director: John Crowley
Screenwriter: Peter Harness
Producer: David Heyman, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf
Composer: Joby Talbot
Studio: Big Beach Films
Reviews for Is Anybody There?
Crowley is heading for a note of sympathy with this stuttering tale of universal heartache, but without needed substance and focus, there's nothing to emotionally devour.
Well made, sharply written and superbly acted drama that's both darkly funny and powerfully emotional.
Is Anybody There?, about an aging magician's friendship with a morose boy, requires us to repress any thoughts about stale material and keep Caine's heartfelt performance front and center.
This thoughtful, well-crafted, modest little film is a pleasing example of generational intersections and the wisdom that flows both directions.
It is Caine's seemingly effortless mastery, after a lifetime of acting, that is the real attraction here.
There are a lot of other sweet, tender moments in this film and it never felt maudlin in any way to me.
Caine is flawless here, giving audiences one of his finest performances to date.
A finely drawn and gentle British drama propelled by another of the star's unforgettable screen portraits.
While Caine is highly watchable, Is Anybody There? limns all-too-familiar and schmaltzy territory for both coming-of-age films and movies with elderly actors.
Caine is still obviously capable of pulling a great performance out of a middling film.
A triumphant true gem of a film with Michael Caine giving one of the finest performances of his career.
What balances the movie is Mr. Caine's exceptional portrayal of old age as the accumulation of a lifetime's experience. In his performance the child, the youthful rogue and the forgetful codger all live at once.
Mostly ages us through its sloggy, spoon-fed narrative that has us, like its surrounding characters, just waiting for it all to be over.
At once predictable and implausible; so overplotted and overpopulated that the question isn't so much Is Anybody There? as "Why on earth are so many bodies here?"
[The actors are] so good it's almost possible to forgive the abundance of clichés and shake off the sense that the entire story's been manufactured to hit whimsical notes.
Blending humor and heartbreak in a performance that makes a small movie a richly satisfying one, Caine truly is magic.
Latest News for Is Anybody There?
April 16, 2009:
Critics Consensus: 17 Again Is Sweet And Poignant
This week at the movies, we've got a high school do-over (17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Leslie Mann), some journalistic thrills (State of Play, starring Russell Crowe and... More...
April 01, 2009:
Michael Caine Talks Batman 3 ![]()
Michael Caine is out promoting his latest feature, "Is Anybody There," but he's perfectly willing to share his thoughts on the next "Batman" sequel -- fortunately for Collider,... More...
March 22, 2009:
Click for trailer and preview ![]()
More...
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