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Is Anybody There?

Play trailer Poster for Is Anybody There? PG-13 Released Apr 17, 2009 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
65% Tomatometer 115 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 All in all, too many flaws converge to make this other than a predictable and maudlin disappointment, and that's about it, really. Aug 29, 2018 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: B Feb 18, 2012 Full Review David Fear Time Out Rated: 2/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper 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. Jan 27, 2020 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens IS ANYBODY THERE? -- They certainly are. This is pure Oscar gold in the shape of a heart. Nov 8, 2019 Full Review Kelly Jane Torrance Washington Times 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. Rated: 3/4 Dec 8, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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isla s 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. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member it was ok for what it was but i didn't like it that much. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Enjoyable comedy drama set ion an old peoples home where an unlikely friendship is struck up between Caine and the young child Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review 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
Heyday Films, Big Beach
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