Me Before You : The Movie Review

So I went to see Me Before You. As you know especially if you read my piece on the controversy this movie has stirred up, that I am a massive fan of this book and I don't necessarily agree with the criticism this movie is getting. Especially since the book was released a couple of years ago with non of this commotion. But I digress, this is my review of the movie. 

So I went to the cinema with my mum to see this movie, we go see all the cheery movies we do. I mean getting to the cinema was a bit of a palava because our most local cinema is shut for renovations so that meant we had to go to the next nearest cinema. Which I haven't been to in years but they two have been having renovations. But it was all very confusing, gone are the screens that tell you  what screenings are where and when. Gone also is the ticket desk which is normally where I would go to buy my tickets. This time I pre booked my tickets and I had no idea what to do with them and where to go. It wasnt clearly signposted. I mean thank goodness my mum comes with me everywhere because other I would have had no clue what to do. But eventually we sorted the ticket business out and headed to the screening. 

Now this movie was probably one of the best book to movie adaptions I have seen. There was certain plot points in the book that did get cut. The support group and Louisas back story were two of those edits. I don't think it affected it too much. Especially in the case of Louisa's back story, her sexual assault/rape, whilst I enjoyed that element because it explained things like Louisa's dress sense and her contentness in her life. I think maybe if it had been included it could of changed the tone of the film. I think the film was not a joyful film but a film to make you appreciate life. It was quite a heavy movie without it so adding it in could have made it too much. The plot point I do wish they had included was the support group. Not necessarily because it changed the film, the movie flowed without it, but because then people who criticise the movie for its disability portrayal couldn't say they didn't have both sides of the assisted suicide conversation.

Now I want to give a special shout out to Sam Claflin. I found his portrayal of Will Traynor a really great one. I pictured him this with razor sharp wit, acerbic tongue, sarcastic with a dark humour. I feel Sam Claflin brought this. His posture as Will I found fascinating, he didn't just half do it, he full on put his all into it. I read numerous articles where he said he researched into it and how to portray it as honestly and as real as possible. I really applaud Sam Claflin. I feel he really fit the role. 

Louisa Clark, aw she is such a lovely character who is just like an ordinary girl. Her charisma and charm. Her character is one of those characters that you just gravitate towards. I feel Emilia Clarke portrayed her perfectly. She adds a spark to Lou and empathy which I think is critical to Louisa.

Lou and Treenas sisterly relationship was lovely, obviously it didn't go deep into it like they do in the book but I think it again, might have brought a different element to the film. I loved seeing their friendship and how they looked after each other. Especially the scene when Treena drops Lou off at the airport when she goes to Switzerland. It was a real moment of 'I will stick by your decision, no matter what I think.' 

In the book I wasn't a fan of Will's parents, especially Mr Traynor. I like how they cut out Mr Traynors affair. I found that apart from Mrs Traynors chapter, they were both quite cold after everything with Will. It left them quite cold. Whereas in the film, they were still cold, but they had this element of humanity about them that I didn't get in the book. 

Oh the restaurant scene, it was one of my favourites in the book and its one of my favourites in the movie. The lines, the way it was set. I loved it. I mean the humour in this movie was great, I mean apart from the end it wasn't this depressing movie that people may think it is. I mean I do think some of the humour was a bit lost on the audience. Like some of the scenes were funny, but funny in the sense that its real life. If that makes sense. Or that this is what people portray disabled people like that. So I think some of that was lost on the non disabled audience. Like in the background of a lot of the scenes at the Traynor house was a shower chair. Like that is big, although not in use, its something you don't see in movies. It was a step in the right direction for me, that things like that are becoming normal. As someone who has used bath boards and chairs to get you in and out the bath it was nice to see. We never would have seen that just a few years ago!

Thats what I think this movie did best, that although Will's choice in the end is heartbreaking, the movie didn't dwell on that. Instead they highlighted all the good things, but also how much Will's life had changed and how in his eyes his quality of life had dramatically changed. They showed that whilst it wasn't his friends and families choice, they went along with it because it was his choice, his choice in his life which he doesn't have much control over. 

I feel the end scenes where handled beautifully, they didn't have any scenes of Will during the assisted suicide or of him dying which I think was a good choice. It was just beautifully handled. Sensitively handled. 
And then that scene with Lou in Paris was exactly like in the book and the 'live boldly just live' line was bittersweet. 

I really loved the soundtrack as well, the music just fit the movie to a tee. From X Ambassadors 'Unsteady' which I loved to the 1975 'The Sound'. All the songs just magically fit in with the movie.

All in all this movie is probably one of the best book to movie adaptions, apart from the support group, I didn't really miss the parts from the book they omitted. I recommend you go watch this movie, you might be surprised. I didn't end up crying , my mum did though. I really enjoyed this movie and if you do go watch this I recommend tissues!

So this was my review of Me Before You. Have you seen the movie, did you enjoy it? 
Hope you are well.
Until next time 
Sophie