“Pretty sure we’re all going to live to regret this.” —Martin
Today’s quick review: A Long Way Down. Martin (Pierce Brosnan), a disgraced talk show host, decides to end his life by jumping off a building on New Year’s Eve. But when he gets there, he finds three other people about to do the same thing: Maureen (Toni Colette), Jess (Imogen Poots), and JJ (Aaron Paul). At a loss for what to do, the four of them sign a pact that they will hold off on suicide for a few more weeks.
A Long Way Down is a drama with comedic elements about four suicidal strangers who meet accidentally. Martin is a celebrity haunted by a sex scandal, Maureen is a lonely woman struggling to support her handicapped son, Jess is the rambunctious daughter of a politician, and JJ is a delivery man with inoperable cancer. In the weeks following New Year’s, they form an unlikely friendship as they share their troubles with one another.
A Long Way Down’s best feature is its character work. Martin, Maureen, Jess, and JJ come from very different walks of life, and their personalities show in everything from their speech and mannerisms to the way they react to stress. None of the characters are perfectly likable, but they all act like real people, and one of the biggest rewards of the story is seeing them open up.
A Long Way Down has a harder time with its plot. After a promising start, the story has to resort to artificial drama to keep things moving forward. News about the pact is leaked to the press, forcing Martin, Maureen, Jess, and JJ to deal with unwanted fame while working through their suicidal tendencies. The result is a story with strong character arcs but weak connective tissue to tie everything together.
Give A Long Way Down a shot when you are in the mood for a character-driven rumination on life with flashes of comedy. The movie does not have the same narrative artistry and thematic depth as other dramas in the same vein, but its characters make it a worthwhile watch for anyone who is interested.
For a black comedy about suicide, try Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back). For a character-driven drama that handles similar conflicts with more skill, try 21 Grams or Hard Surfaces. For a drama about the intersecting lives of strangers that has shakier execution and a more serious tone, try Powder Blue.
[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458413/). I give it a 6.5 for engaging character work missing the vision to pull it all together.