By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Bill Nighy (TV's "The Man Who Fell To Earth") garnered a "Best Actor" Oscar nomination for his role in "Living." The movie also received a nod for "Best Adapted Screenplay."
Although both categories are stacked with heavy hitters, it would be a shocker if Nighy were to pull the big upset at the 95th Annual Academy Awards and win. It's not likely, but it would definitely be shocking. Then again, "Living," from Oliver Hermanus, ("Moffie") seems like the type of nuanced and sentimental film that Oscar voters tend to embrace.
"Living" is from a screenplay by Kazuo Ishiguro (TV's "An Artist of the Floating World") and adapted from the 1952 Japanese film "Ikiru" directed by Akira Kurosawa ("The Magnificent Seven" (2017).
The film is set in 1953 London. Nighy plays Mr. Rodney Williams, a widowed bureaucrat who has worked for years at the county Public Works department and has never missed a day on the job. Work is really all he knows. That's how he got the office nickname "Mr. Zombie" from his affable co-worker Margaret Harris (Aimee Lou Wood, TV's "Sex Education").
A visit to his doctor results in bad news. He's dying of cancer and has about six months to live, eight if he’s lucky. When he gets home, Rodney sits alone quietly pondering his next move. He's never been a big drinker and partygoer, but with this latest news, everything is on the table now.
What Rodney realizes is that he hasn't done nearly enough meaningful things in his life. Shuffling stacks of office files and denying work projects and proposals—because he can-- doesn't count.
So, he meets a guy named Sutherland (Tom Burke, TV's "The Lazarus Project") at a resort town restaurant and they talk about his plight. Sutherland tells him he should just live it up. Now's the time to forget about his snobby selfish son and daughter-in-law and finally do what he wants. Rodney hasn't told his son he's dying. Besides, his son seems more eager to get his hands on their big house anyway, so Rodney keeps everything a secret.
The first big thing that Rodney wants completed before he checks out, is to finalize a proposal that three women brought to his department. They wanted an abandoned lot in their neighborhood turned into a playground/city park, but Rodney had repeatedly shot down the idea. Getting that up and running now would have a lasting impact and make a lot of people happy and even proud of him. Plus, it would be a nice contribution to the city.
With the help of Margaret and new hire Alex Sharp (Peter Wakeling, "The Trial of the Chicago 7"), the park project is fast tracked, but it's not completed in time for Rodney to see it.
"Living" grows on you. While Nighy's performance isn't splashy or loud, it still resonates in a dignified and contemplative manner.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"LIVING"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
