louise_andersson
Such a beautiful movie with a constant reminder that kids should be nothing more than just that, kids.. All they need is love and support from their parents. Give them a hug or two and also a bit of your time and they'll be strong lovingly people when they grow up <3
BBogus
Actually didn't expect much, but was from start to finish immersed in the film. Although it might be too polished and has its flaws it does wonderfully tell the story of Billy Moon and Blue. A solid narrative, beautifully acted and fully entertaining which is what it is all about when watching a film.
zkonedog
Whenever I'm judging a biopic film, I always see if it passes my test of having that "spark" for why it needed to be made into a live-action portrayal of the events (or maybe should have just been a documentary). For the first 2/3 of "Goodbye Christopher Robin", it didn't (or just barely) passed that test. Fortunately, the final act really redeems it by adding in some emotion that truly felt real.For a basic plot summary, this film tells the story of how author A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) conceived his Winnie The Pooh books by watching the playtime of his son Christopher Robin (Will Tilston). The movie extends that lens, however, by continuing past the publication of the books and focusing on the struggles of an adolescent Christopher (Alex Lawther) and how much he resented being "the real Christopher Robin".Like I said above, the first 2/3 of "Goodbye Christopher Robin" were "just okay", and that is at best. At times it felt a bit emotionless and plodding, and I wondered if perhaps this story wasn't quite exciting enough to be worthy of a live-action biopic. Perhaps a well-constructed documentary would do on the subject? It just didn't seem to offer one single really interesting thing that wasn't either already shown in the trailer or couldn't be guessed by common sense for how reality transpires.But then, in quite a turnaround, the film really focuses in on the struggles of Christopher Robin post-Pooh, and that's where things really pick up steam (especially when Lawther's performances as Robin begin). This is where the film breaks from being just a "straight Pooh origin story" (of which it is passable at best) to being a deeper examination of emotional themes between individuals. These are the scenes in the film where I really felt like I cared about the people on screen, instead of just being told a story I basically already knew.In terms of acting, things often feel a bit stilted at certain points. Both Gleeson and Robbie (playing Christopher's mother) are great actors, but they perhaps seem a bit odd for their respective roles here. Robbie's character shined much as as a "young mother" and declined as the film went on, whereas I felt Gleeson's performance actually stepped up a notch as he portrayed an older father. In a lot of ways, though, the cinematography steals the show here, what with all the wonderful shots of the English countryside as well the noir, if you will, of London of that time period.Like most children, I went through a Winnie the Pooh phase, and that's obviously why a film like this appeals to so many viewers. This one will never be an out-and-out classic, but it can still be enjoyed, especially by those who prefer a more straightforward approach to biopics. The last portions of the film really make up for the paint-by-numbers approach in the early goings, too.
SnoopyStyle
Alan "Blue" Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) returns home to England from the Great War suffering PTSD. His wife Daphne (Margot Robbie) likes the London high society life with her successful playwright husband. After the birth of their son Christopher "Billy Moon", Daphne hires nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald) leaving the child raising to her. Blue decides to move out to the countryside as he struggles to write his anti-war novel. Blue is distant until he starts writing Winnie the Pooh with his son but the invasive publicity soon divides son from father.This is not a kiddie movie. It's not really a movie for kids. It is a compelling movie about modern celebrity culture and a family drama. It can be a bit slow at times. It needs some brutality to give realism to the PTSD. The movie straddles the kiddie background material with more serious adult material. Some war scenes could connect father to son and be the epic conclusion to their story. It may not fit the kiddie nature of Winnie the Pooh. Sitting on a rock is probably the safer choice. Overall, I find this true story compelling.