Never Let Me Go

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Never Let Me Go

R

Released Sep 15, 2010

1h 44m

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

71%

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186 Reviews

70%

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25,000+ Ratings

Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.

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Critics Consensus

With Never Let Me Go, Mark Romanek has delivered a graceful adaptation that captures the spirit of the Ishiguro novel -- which will be precisely the problem for some viewers.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Perhaps such passive solemnity is true to the book, but on screen, along with the sad tinkling piano and the sad violins that just won't quit, the overall effect is so enervating that you simply don't feel a damned thing.

Aug 30, 2018

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Kaleem Aftab

Independent (UK)

The lack of dramatic tension means it's difficult to emotionally connect with the central characters and their dilemma.

May 15, 2018

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The script could have done better to translate the concept. It works as a big picture concept, but doesn't get the treatment it deserves here.

Rated: C+

Sep 8, 2017

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

Ishiguro's gentle science fiction concept is rendered with melancholy subtlety by Romanek.

Rated: 4/5

May 7, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

This disturbing narrative about believable characters in their fatalistic world offers an affecting drama that stays with the viewer long after the film has ended.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 3, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

It's anxiously moving. But also the most morbid film human eyes have ever seen. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 4, 2022

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Jurassic P

This film kind of sucked. Not kind of, it really sucked. The main thing for me, besides it being a total pornography movie, was that it moved WAY to fast. Like the main characters are children and then now there kissing and then they're adults. Like if I hadn't read the book before hand I would have NO clue on what's happening. And some people may actually like that because they think the movie should align with the book, and if you think that, that's fine! I personally think that the movie should follow the same ideas and themes as the book did but it should be kind of it's own thing, because if it isn't, then it's just a carbon copy of the book and at that point there is no point in watching it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

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Carol D

This is a beautiful piece of filmmaking

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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TT H

Sad movie but with great acting and an interesting story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

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Georgan G

This movie is so engrossing that it drew me in. The acting is terrific. How we think of mortality is shown as personal & cultural. Now I have to read all of Ishiguro's novels.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

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Robert R

Definitely not for everyone, but I can see the appeal in "Never Let Me Go," Mark Romanek's 2010 contemplative sci-fi drama. This is one of the movies that honestly got a lot more palatable for me in its final moments, with an expertly crafted closing monologue (written by the one and only Alex Garland, no less) ultimately framing everything we just witnessed in a way that's slightly more forgiving than the events as they appear on paper. Still, though, the ins and outs of the world in question here — whether spoken or unspoken — are just horrific to think about for longer than a few seconds. Special attention should be given to Andrew Garfield's performance here, as well as Rachel Portman's knockout score. Just know that the rest of your day will likely be pretty quiet after you decide to watch this.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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Rebekah P

Full disclosure--didn't read the book on this one. Wife did and didn't like it. The movie was fine. It was fine. Yeah, fine. Probably the least favorite Garland screenplay, but I'll blame the book. Maybe I'll read it someday. If I feel like it. Sometimes litfic just...doesn't know how to scifi properly.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

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Mark Romanek

Director

Carey Mulligan

Kathy

Andrew Garfield

Tommy

Keira Knightley

Ruth

Izzy Meikle-Small

Young Kathy

Ella Purnell

Young Ruth

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Never Let Me Go: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.

Director: Mark Romanek
Producer: Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films, Film 4, Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Sexuality|Nudity)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 26, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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