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Is Anybody There?

Play trailer Poster for Is Anybody There? PG-13 2009 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 112 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Edward (Bill Milner), 10 years old, lives in a house his financially strapped parents converted into a nursing home. Though he doesn't like having elderly housemates, he searches for evidence of an afterlife by recording their dying breaths. When Clarence (Michael Caine), an aging magician, moves into the home, Edward finally has a chance to make a real friend.
Is Anybody There?

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Critics Consensus

Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, Is Anybody There? features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/29/2018
All in all, too many flaws converge to make this other than a predictable and maudlin disappointment, and that's about it, really. Go to Full Review
Rob Nelson Variety 09/01/2009
Profoundly (and some would say pleasurably) formulaic, the film possesses scant cinematic energy, relying wholly on the familiar transformation of a grumpy old man into an infectiously weepy humanist. Go to Full Review
Leo Goldsmith IndieWire 08/08/2009
The talent and craftsmanship of "Is Anybody There?" is ample, but it remains uncertain whether there's anybody here still interested in this all-too-familiar story. Go to Full Review
Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper 01/27/2020
Crowley's fatal flaw here is a fear of painting the old folk's home as too grim, even as he strives at every turn to milk sentiment from death and dying. Go to Full Review
Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens 11/08/2019
IS ANYBODY THERE? -- They certainly are. This is pure Oscar gold in the shape of a heart. Go to Full Review
Kelly Jane Torrance Washington Times 12/08/2018
3/4
The film belongs, of course, to the masterful Mr. Caine. He brings a lifetime of experience moving us to do so once again as a regretful man who feels crushed under the weight of a lifetime of experience. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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isla s 09/01/2022 This is a touching, amusing and sad watch. I really liked the interaction between Michael Caines character and the young boy. I could understand things from both peoples points of view and I could certainly relate to the boys frustrations and isolation. Its a bit of a weepy type watch at times but it definitely has at least a hint of typical British dark humour, which I liked. It is definitely sentimental but it doesn't shy away from issues relating to old age. This film really appealed to me. See more 02/13/2016 Dreadful. We love Michael Caine. We tried. The forced whimsy and black humor, the cartoonish characterizations, hamfisted direction, overacting, clunky editing -- we stopped after five minutes, then a few nights later I said "Let's at least watch to the point where Michael Caine arrives." That turned out to be a contrived "meet cute (meet angry)" setup. Agh! Just a dreadful, forced, charmless movie. Avoid. See more 06/03/2014 This film is touching in so many levels as it deals with so many issues including life ,death and everything in-between. I am not going to spoil anything so I am just going to say that it is about a young boy growing up in an old people's home and a man living there dealing with his regrets. All the cast were wonderful but especially David Morrissey and Michael Cain. I think this is one of Michael Cain's greatest performance to date but lets not forget about Bill Milner and Anna Maria Duff who also gave great performances. The chemistry between Michael Cain and Bill Milner was very good and really does make the film the heart-warming comedy- drama that it is. See more 03/03/2014 it was ok for what it was but i didn't like it that much. See more 11/17/2013 Michael gives one of the finest acting master classes ever to hit the movie screen. The depth and complexity of his character is a marvel to behold. The rest of the cast add to this extraordinary play with aplomb making this a quiet treat. Nibbles: Jamaica Cake. See more 10/25/2013 Enjoyable comedy drama set ion an old peoples home where an unlikely friendship is struck up between Caine and the young child See more Read all reviews
Is Anybody There?

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Is Anybody There?

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Movie Info

Synopsis Edward (Bill Milner), 10 years old, lives in a house his financially strapped parents converted into a nursing home. Though he doesn't like having elderly housemates, he searches for evidence of an afterlife by recording their dying breaths. When Clarence (Michael Caine), an aging magician, moves into the home, Edward finally has a chance to make a real friend.
Director
John Crowley
Producer
David Heyman, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub
Screenwriter
Peter Harness
Distributor
Big Beach Films
Production Co
Big Beach, Heyday Films
Rating
PG-13 (Some Disturbing Images|Sexual References|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 17, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
1h 32m