Cemetery Junction

UK Release: 14th April 2010

Watched on LoveFilm Instant: Tuesday 8th May 2012

Rating: 15

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Runtime: 1hr 35mins

Tagline: Be Young. Be Free. Be Somebody.

IMDb Plot Synopsis: It's 1973 in Cemetery Junction, a Reading suburb. Three working class lads, best friends, are coming of age. Freddie wants to rise above his station, taking a job selling life insurance, wearing a suit and tie. Snork works at the railway station and wants a girlfriend some day. Bruce talks of leaving but seems on track to work at a factory, drink and fight, and become like his dad, in front of the telly with beer on hand; and he's trying the patience of the police officer who gets him out of jams. Freddie's job leads the lads toward a few small changes. He runs across a childhood friend, Julie, his boss's daughter who's engaged to the firm's top seller. Can the lads break out?

My Review: Cemetery Junction had a reasonable premise, however it was rather stale with not enough drama to keep me interested throughout. While it was a cliche ‘feel-good’ 70’s nostalgic film it was a little predictable and was sweet. But that’s the problem. A film can’t just be ‘sweet’ anymore it needs something more to grab the audiences attention - something this failed to do. I found it all to be very British and so a bit awkward in places and the chemistry between the cast wasn’t quite there. Felicity Jones and Ralph Fiennes were good as always but the rest were a bit disappointing - except for Emily Watson who was easily the best actor in the whole film. She played the boss’ wife and Felicity Jones’ mum and she completely encapsulated the frustrated and stunted housewife and made the try-hard emotions of the film have some sort of realism. 

Overall, the ending was satisfying, even if you could see it a mile off and it was an easy watch - if not a dull and taxing one at times. 

Score: 6.5/10