Today’s quick review: Some Voices. After years in a mental hospital, Ray (Daniel Craig) comes home to live with his brother Pete (David Morrissey), a hard-working restaurant owner. Pete helps his brother get back on his feet, and soon enough, Ray finds happiness dating Laura (Kelly MacDonald), a sunny young woman fresh off a bad relationship. But when Ray stops taking his medicine, his erratic behavior threaten to undo everything he’s built.
Some Voices is a romantic drama about a man with mental health issues trying to make a new life for himself. Daniel Craig stars as Ray, a playful and caring man whose lack of responsibility gets him into trouble, especially when it comes to taking care of himself. Some Voices shows the ups and downs of Ray’s life in the months after he leaves the hospital, telling a nicely scoped story that’s backed by human moments and solid acting.
Some Voices has the messy quality of Ray himself. Nearly all of the drama comes from Ray’s decisions, which are just sensible enough to give him a shot at happiness and just risky enough to put him on a bad path. The interplay between Ray, Pete, and Laura makes for some good tension. Both want the best for Ray, but getting through to him is challenging. The result isn’t a masterpiece, but it is a fascinating study of a complicated man.
Some Voices won’t be for everyone. There is no grand story arc to follow, and no looming external conflict, only the gradual dissolution of the supports holding Ray together. Those with a taste for the personal and the realistic will find that Some Voices is an interesting peek into the struggles of a tight-knit group of people. Those looking for a broader or more plot-oriented story may want to look elsewhere.
For a more firmly rooted drama about a man wrestling with mental health issues, check out A Beautiful Mind. For one with a more sinister bent, try The Machinist. For an introspective drama in a similar vein, try Croupier. For an offbeat romance with a lighter tone and a stranger premise, try Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218616/). I give it the same for good acting and an interesting story.