521. Marjorie Prime; movie review

MARJORIE PRIME
Cert 12A
97 mins,

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, suicide references

Three weeks ago we thought we had lost my dad. He suffered a ruptured aortic aneurysm and only the luck of being in hospital at the time and the incredible skill of the medics saved him.
My mum and I went through several hours during which we expected to be told he had not made it. It was the worst time of my life.
Thankfully, he is making an incredible recovery and, therefore, Marjorie Prime did not resonate quite as much as it would have done.
But, frankly, if he had died, I am not sure I could have coped with it.
The premise of Michael Almereyda's movie is based on holograms or 'primes' being created of the deceased so they can converse with those left behind.
In the first instance, we see Marjorie in conversation with her long dead husband Walter (Jon Hamm).

Interestingly, she has chosen that his hologram is of Walter in his 40s when she first knew him rather than as an old man.
While the look and sound of the holograms are eerily accurate, they have to be told their back story so they can convincing converse.
Thus, some of the movie is made up of flashbacks to their early days together and, inevitably, skeletons re-emerge and relationships are re-examined.
The skill of Marjorie Prime is in its very precise script, its superb cast and a subject matter which prompts pause for much thought.
Eighty-seven year old Lois Smith is a wonderfully reflective Marjorie who muses on life, love and loss with her husband's hologram and the daughter (Geena Davis) and son-in-law (Tim Robbins) with whom she lives.
Davis, of whom I have seen little in recent years, convinces as a daughter who is struggling with her mother's old age as well as reflecting on her own complicated past (although I found it tough to see past her facelift)
Robbins adds a sense of calm while worrying about the mental state of both women.
Marjorie Prime will not be for everyone because lacks much action and has the feel of a theatre piece.
But I felt its dialogue pertinent and presented with power.

Reasons to watch: Thought-provoking peer into the future
Reasons to avoid: not much for action fans

Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Star tweet

Chris Feil‏ @chrisvfeil Dec 9

Thanks to Marjorie Prime, I updated my Christmas wishlist to include an A.I. that talks to me about My Best Friend’s Wedding.

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