“Age of Adaline”

    I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Even though this film falls within the sci-fi genre (even though it’s heavy on drama and romance), please visit my other blog The Boxed Office for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.

The Cast: 

Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, and Harrison Ford

  

   Blake Lively (Adaline Bowman) did very well playing a woman coping with her reality that she is immortal and all the wisdom and heartbreak that comes from living such a life. It would seem to me that there is a level of detachment a person would have living a life of mystery and caution, and Lively captured this very well.

   Michiel Huisman (Ellis) was a great supporting character and lived up to what women would deem a “perfect’ man (for those in his taste). The dynamic between him and Lively was well played and even had me caring about is feelings as he dealt with a person dealing with a unique circumstance nobody really ever has before.

  

   Harrison Ford (William) really needs no introduction or any accolades from me. He is a tremendous actor and the screen time he had in this film was used to enhance the story as he is a tremendous actor that never disappoints.

The Plot: 

  

   The story of Adeline Bowman is an interesting one, narrated from the very beginning, with mystery and intrigue. Born in the year 1900 on January 1st, she lived a great life, married and had a child, and was the epitome of a happy story up until her husband is killed in a tragic accident.

  

   Making matters worse, she suffers her own accident, soon after he husband, but instead of dying…she is besieged by unique circumstances that actually make her immortal (unbeknownst to her at first). As the years go by and she realizes she does not age, others also realize it and she is forced to live her life always looking over her shoulder and covering her tracks as she changes her location and identity every decade.

  

   Her lifestyle of cautious suspicion and careful plans is thrown into chaos when she meets a man that moves her heart and forces her to question the quality of a life not fully lived, even if it lasts forever. What follows is a wonderful story of love, risk, and wisdom with a few wonderful twists along the way.

The Verdict: 

  

   I really enjoy science-fiction films that are not so heavy on the science, but simply use it to tell an interesting and engaging story about people and how they cope with unusual circumstances while trying their best to live life no different than anyone else.

   

   Immortals are not new to the big screen so I really appreciate a film that tackles the subject with it’s own unique presentation where the focus is not so much on the immortal person being immortal, but the sacrifices they have to make to keep their love ones protected while giving up one of the greatest benefits to even being alive…love.

  

   Throughout the film I found myself feeling for Adeline as realized that her immortality was really a prison for her and the blessing of longevity isn’t really a blessing if you are forced to let the best parts of you die in order to live in peace. I loved how later in the film her elderly daughter brings this realization to Adeline while still maintaining the mother/daughter relationship evident between mothers and their young daughters.

  

   Harrison Ford’s role was also revealing as he very much conveyed the emotions of a man that was forever touched by the love of a special person, and the heartache that brought given that person was Adeline herself.

  

   This film kept my attention throughout and needed no special effects or large explosions to engage me. The story was well written and the film was well acted and the incidental fact that it was indeed based on science-fiction just added a level of complexity to the way the characters coped with their own humanity. 

This film was certainly my cup of tea and spiced up my cup with and a half cinnamon sticks.

Rating 3.5 / 5