User reviews

Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci excel in Harry Macqueen's melancholic but powerful tale of love and loss, 'Supernova.' Both carry out the dramatic scenes in a restrained way, without the need to exaggerate or seek the easy tear. And the dialogues between the two leads are straightforward despite addressing deep and complex themes such as life and death, past and future. The other outstanding element is the photography direction of Dick Pope, who presents images of great visual beauty of the English countryside with postcard-like framing that highlights the calming qualities of nature.

Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci absolutely had me in tears towards the end. They sell the relationship better than I have seen in so other movies. But Stanley is always a great husband. This was a touching and romantic love story that was coming to an end. At least we were able to take the road trip with them.

Two stellar performances from Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are the main draw for this study of the onset of dementia. The screenplay is delicate and nuanced, with a resolution that is both satisfying and poignant. A perfect counterpoint to the flood of superhero CGI monstrosities.

"Supernova" (2020 release from the UK; 93 min.) brings the story of Sam and his longtime partner Tusker. As the movie opens, Sam is driving their RV out on the countryside in northern England. It is clear that Tusker is not quite alright, and in fact it isn't long before we learn he is in the early stages of dementia... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the second film directed by British actor Harry Macqueen (after "Hinterland"). Here he has two aging guys, a longtime couple, reflect on mortality and the fleeting life as they prepare for the day that Tusker will no longer remember anything at all. Hence they hit the road one more time to visit favorite spots and meet up with family and friends. There really isn't much of a "plot" to speak of, and that is quite alright. Watch instead the wonderful performances of the two leads: Colin Firth as the classical pianist Sam who in contemplating a return to the stage; and Stanley Tucci as the writer Tusker who, when told "You're still Tusker", laments that "No, I'm not. I just look like him", one of the many aching moments in the film. "Supernova" isn't the first, or last, film dealing with dementia and/or Alzheimer's issues. But "Supernova" does so in a quiet and restrained manner (the British way!), and along the way finds a path into your heart for these rich characters.

"Supernova" premiered at last Fall's San Sebastian film festival, and opened late January in select theaters. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at turned out to be a private screening: I was literally the only person in the theater (and the rest of the movieplex pretty much looked like a ghost town--I honestly do not understand how movieplexes can continue to operate like this on a profitable basis. If you are in the mood for a tender film reflecting on mortality and the fleeting like and featuring great performances from Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (doubtful at this point), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

"You're not supposed to mourn someone before they die." Tusker (Stanley Tucci)

With early-onset dementia (never mentioned, just "the bloody thing," Tusker, a respected novelist, pretty much feels life closing in. His lover, Sam (Colin Firth, even more low-key than ever), a well-known pianist, is facing the inevitable with as much good-will toward the fates as is possible. Something grander about dementia is in this quiet, contemplative drama eclipsing even the success of Julianne Moore in "Still Alice" and Julie Christie in "Away From Her."

The vastness of the universe helps these two amateur astronomers cope by showing the smallness of lives and fates and the assimilation we experience after we leave this mortal coil. Like all of us, Sam wonders if even that cosmic salve can save him from his oncoming grief of loss: "Am I strong enough? Can I do it?"

In a motorhome touring England's grand Lake District, we observe from the back seat as two buddies in the front on maybe their last adventure exchanging good-natured barbs that fulfill my requirement for buddy banter from good road pictures to my own travels with close friends. When Tusker asks Sam how things are going, Sam replies, "It's fine for me." Only a long-time love could respond, "Liar." The minimalism belies a depth of the love and understanding. Nice.

Writer-director Harry Macqueen deftly arranges the climax of the road trip with a surprise birthday party Tasker arranges for Sam at Sam's relatives' country home. The abundance of love for the couple mitigates the slow-coming sorrow of inevitable loss to remind us that love is the antidote to sorrow and the source for joy at whatever time the universe calls us back:

"Thanks," says Sam. "For what?" replies Tusker. "This," responds Sam. That's enough said about quiet love as they travel like a supernova full of light and strength on the way out.

What worked for me really well about this film was the fact that it kept focus throughout on telling a compelling and believable story. There was nothing flashy or over the top, and the central performances from Firth and Tucci were both gentle and very genuine. You can't help but find yourself asking what you would do in their situation.

There are some beautiful shots of the UK and the music pulls you into the story and has that wistful quality that makes you think about the flow of time.

This film may not be for everyone as it plays like a small independent film or something that could have been written for the stage. I personally found it beautifully filmed, acted, and thought provoking. This is the story of a gay couple in their early 60s coming to terms with one's terminal illness. Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth are so good and believable in their roles that you forget you are watching two well known actors. It's so refreshing to see a relationship between two older gay men on screen, especially with the authenticity of this one. The ending is powerful stuff and a reminder of what real love is in all its incredible complexity.

This movie may come across as slow and depressing to some, but I think it was painstakingly honest with the conflict and sadness that comes with the reality of dementia. Many are complaining of a lack of chemistry, but I did not find that to be the case. I thought this was a beautiful, romantic movie made even better by two extraordinary actors.

Greetings again from the darkness. Relationships end. Sometimes that brings relief, other times pain. For long time couple Sam and Tusker, the end is speeding towards them and they are each taking approaches on how best to handle. Writer-director Harry Macqueen delivers a tender story that is elevated by two extraordinary lead performances.

Colin Firth (Oscar winner, THE KING'S SPEECH, 2010) stars as Sam, a concert pianist, and Stanley Tucci (Oscar nominated, THE LOVELY BONES, 2009) co-stars as Tusker, a published novelist. These are arguably career best performances from both, and they complement each other so well on screen that we simply forget we are watching actors and accept the plight of this couple - of these two men. Driving along in their RV from a bygone era, they have the familiar exchanges that come from spending a lifetime together. We enjoy their banter, but it's Sam's opening line that sets the tone when he says, "We're not going back, you know". He's referring to a suitcase that Tusker didn't allow him to help pack, though soon enough we realize that line is even more to the point when it comes to their life journey.

As the bucolic northern England countryside passes by, it becomes evident that Tusker has early onset dementia. Though more present than not, he sometimes forgets a word, while in his worst moments doesn't know where he is or how he arrived. The purpose of the trip is two-fold: Sam is giving a 'comeback' concert after many years away from the circuit, and this is Tusker's farewell visit to family and friends. Of course, we (and Tusker) also recognize that this is likely the final fond memory this couple will make. While Sam is insistent that he can help Tusker remain productive, Tusker is well aware that he will quickly become a burden to the man he loves - and that's not something he wants to see happen.

Dementia is a slow fade, often over many years. Recognizing that it's happening to you is as painful as watching a loved one decline. People deal with this in their own way, and Macqueen's film handles it gently, while the actors exhibit much grace in their portrayals. The line, "It's not about fair. It's about love" really struck a nerve, and made it clear that these are two characters we like and believe in - inside a story that's heart-wrenching. Star-gazing plays a role here, and there's only a mild poke at Margaret Thatcher's policy towards gays. This isn't a movie of politics, but rather one of emotions and humanity. Not much happens here ... only everything. Best to reach for the stars, as "we're not going back."

*side note: I did have to look up "frog-marching" since it's used in conversation, and I had not previously heard the phrase. The film hits theaters on January 29, 2021 and Digital on February 16, 2021

We watched this new movie tonight, Supernova, with Colin Firth as Sam, a pianist, and Stanley Tucci as Tusker, a writer.

They are a long-term couple, based in England. They've rented a small RV and take a road trip. The story primarily concerns Tusker, who is suffering from dementia. Deeply in love, they're grappling with the grim turn of reality their lives have taken.

I emphasize strongly that this is not a movie for everyone. It is paced leisurely and deliberately, with small, subtle strokes. There aren't any big, over-the-top moments. In other words, the very antithesis of a "Hollywood" film. I have a hunch many simply will not like it, will be left feeling dissatisfied with its spare, uncluttered storytelling. Others may find the subject matter too unpleasant.

We both loved it.

It is a tale of true love, and the pain of imminent loss and fearing the end of that love.

What makes this movie so special is the combined talents and presences of Firth and Tucci.

These two actors are prodigiously gifted: they don't seem to be "giving a performance" so much as, rather, completely inhabiting their characters. You don't get the feeling of things having been "worked out," but actually *lived.*

In their eyes, expressions, and postures, you see their innermost souls reacting to each other, reactive to the smallest nuances of intimate awareness and knowledge of each other: they act exactly like you would *expect* of a real-life couple.

There is nary a false or sham move from either Firth and Tucci, and you're taken into their very hearts and souls.

It's a devastatingly moving, poignant film.

"You'll break my heart. It'll last forever."

I don't know what to make out of it. I love Colin Firth and I love all the magnificent scenery. In one scene, within just about 3 minutes, Colin dropped the most humourous line and the most heart-breaking line of the whole movie. and that's magical to witness. Then at the same time, I think neither the chemistry between Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci nor the plot's argument is strong enough to justify the outcome of their story.

The movie proposed a very important and interesting conversation, yet it seems they took it quite lightly over the course of it. Stanley Tucci's character surprisingly didn't struggle that much with his decision, especially when he's the one who practiced some of his routines only "because of the other half" (of the times where he could reach the desirable effect). And Colin Firth's character was just so helpless and he gave in too easily. I don't know if it was the intention of the filmmakers to achieve a shocking or a composed ending, but I do feel it's either powerful or convincing.

I waited for this film almost 8 months as the release date pushed forward due to covid. I love the 2 lead actors and the storyline also attracts me for various reasons. I was almost in tears when I saw the trailer and when I finally watched it I had very mixed feelings. In the end I blame the script & the director which I found out the same person! It is such an empty script it is impossible to get attached to any character as there are no details about anyone. It is like a music video with no foundation. I think he tried to go for a simplicity with lots of nature views but he didnt realize he is not Ang Lee and he will never be that talented.

So the good things. Two great actors given some good lines and they are indeed fine performances. The problem is it's all such a cliche. As usual gay men are portrayed as successful, artistic, sensitive people with rich, educated friends. Why do we never see two gay men who work in a factory and live a normal life? All the characters are broad brush middle class cliches too. Had they chosen to tell the story of two men from working class backgrounds I think this movie could have had something to say but because it is reduced to the same old tropes it just ends up being a slow study of privileged people dealing with a horrible situation. I ended up longing for Colin Firth to beat up some thugs with an umbrella and a pint glass. Not awful, just cliched and derivative

Absolutely loved the performances in this film. It felt like a play with the two main actors but opened up with the wide landscape of the Lake District - it was stunning. Tucci and Firth were so convincing and played the scenario so well - we were deeply moved. Yes it is melancholy and sad but it has great moments of humour, especially at the start, that I think we can all relate to. An honest and raw portrayal of dementia in stunning surroundings. Absolutely loved it.

Overall a good movie, very slow moving with a heavy focus on the tragic side of this story. This will resonate with those that have had experience with Dementia and or lost a loved one to something equally as painful. The chemistry between Tusker and Sam felt absent, more like realtively good friends but never lovers and I felt as though Colin and Stanley were holing back. Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen were made for these roles. This is not to say the acting is not not top notch, I just never felt any real spark or had the idea there was ever anything between them.

Supernova doesn't do anything new but it's still an incredible drama that's equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking with plenty of dry wit. Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci both give perfectly understated performances with incredible chemistry. Harry Macqueen's direction is fantastic, a nice balance of intimate drama and beautiful vistas. The music by Keaton Henson is excellent, just as beautiful, quiet and intimate as everything else.

When one of the loving and caring partners of a fulfilled relationship gets incurably ill, facing dementia and near death, and he's determined to commit suicide before he looses his dignity and personality, does his decision mean an act of egotism? Does he leave the other one alone in his loss and pain? Or should his decision be accepted by his partner in an expression of the deepest love? Can Love be a solution in this tragic dilemma? The film raises a lot of these questions and more. An intimate and touching experience, unspectacular but well performed by Firth and Tucci, honest and unsentimental.

My Review- Supernova My Rating 8:10

This sensitive and challenging film especially if you're a mature aged married same sex couple or just a couple of any sexual persuasion is long overdue. It just quietly normalises our lives we love, we grieve , we have families and friends and we experience all the emotions joys and heartbreaks that the rest of humanity experiences we are just human like you. The only other movie I can think of that treats our mature age GLBTQI citizens with such realism is Cloudburst (2011 starring Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker about 2 ageing lesbians on a road trip together. The next person or article I read that debates the view that it's not ethical that heterosexual actors portray LGBTQI characters I'll just refer them "Supernova" and to Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci's classy and dignified portrayal of Sam and Tusker a long term married couple. Tusker Stanley Tucci and his long term spouse Sam (Colin Firth ) a pianist are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have. These two actors are so believable it proves beyond doubt to me that it's the Actor that's important in a role not their sexuality Actors Act that's what they do.

There are too many touching moments in Supernova to mention like Tusker wandering off after hitching a lift much to the panic of Sam and the dialogue of the film is minimal but full of intimate meaning. One beautiful line that touched me deeply belongs to Tusker talking about loss and sadness he says " Being so sad that something is gone just means that it was good while it was there." Harry Maqueen the writer and director has created a superb snapshot of love and loss between two men and the small ensemble cast of 27 are all excellent especially Pippa Haywood as Lilly, Sam's loving sister. It's a beautiful film to watch and was mainly shot in the Lake District in Cumbria, UK I was fascinated to read in a 2021 LA Times interview with Emily Zemler that Stanley Tucci said that he was originally cast as Sam and Colin Firth as Tusker, but during their pre-filming discussions they both came to agree that they should switch the roles: "'We sat down and started talking about the script and where we'd be shooting, and then Colin said, "Stanley, I think maybe we should switch roles,"' remembers Tucci, who initially brought the film to Firth after meeting with Macqueen. 'I said, 'I've been thinking the same thing." And I don't know why. I just felt it. So we read both ways for Harry-and I could tell Harry was panicked when we told him-and it was evident.' 'It was an amazing process,' Macqueen adds . 'They brought that to me, and we decided to do an audition, which is an amazing privilege for a writer-director to have two people like Stanley and Colin sitting in a room reading both roles. I picked five or 10 scenes from the film, and they were kind of brilliant at both roles, as you can imagine. But there was just something about the quintessential Englishness that Colin brought to Sam and a kind gregarious energy that Stanley immediately brought to the American Tusker, which made the lighter moments in the film really sing. It just felt right all of a sudden.'" I think they made the right decision although I'd love to see the same film in reverse roles it would be so interesting. One critic wrote in Original Cin - that Writer/director Harry Macqueen shows his best with this deeply moving drama of devotion and the dread of approaching loss when he stands back and lets these two actors loose. Firth and Tucci provide arguably the best performances of their careers as two 60-something lovers facing a crisis. I can't recommend "Supernova " more highly. Ps I couldn't help thinking that this movie could have been a sequel 20 years down the track to Colin Firth's wonderful Oscar nominated role of George in the 2009 movie "A Single Man" .

So many things about the movie are to be loved. The cast. The premise. The importance of the story. And yet its execution is a let down.

There are aspects of the movie which seem contrived, and yet they are woven together to make it appear natural and seamless. Sadly, it borders on emotional manipulation, instead of an engaging emotional journey.

I am glad I watched this, and the performances are excellent, though keep your overall expectations low.

Beautifully done. Firth and Tucci excellent. Easy to relate to 2 people who have spent their lives together and facing problems as they age.

Supernova

This movie has arrived coincidentally at the very same time as The Father, that film approached the onset of dementia in a very different way, that movie sought to in-still, by proxy, in the viewer what it might be like to suffer this illness from the inside, this movie looked at other themes, these were:

When you have had a diagnosis of a gradual but terminal illness you fight to maintain "normality" until you arrive at the moment when you have to accept the inevitable. This realisation occurred when Tusker could no longer write.

The nature of love is to protect and defend your loved one as you go down the same path, however it is also the moment when if you love someone you have to let them go, this movie focused sensitively on this very moment.

The last theme was "you come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing", well this is not true, the only thing we humans truly possess is our lives, and this movie looks at self-determination in a practical way.

Overall this movie was intentionally confined to a few days road trip and was really quite slow and overly emotional, it lacked the light touch humour and banter of most long term relationships. I was not overly convinced of the "gay" chemistry between Tucci and Firth but others may feel differently.

I'm giving this a weak 6 out of 10, a worthy but slow watch that whiled away an evening.

Both fine actors, particularly Colin Firth but I must say there was no chemistry between the two men plus little or no humor throughout the film and the dreary music was enough to make you want to jump off a cliff. To make it worse, the movie was just plain boring with no punch. Some pretty scenery but i wanted a more solid film where i felt more connected to the story and characters but the film never delivered. I honestly feel let down.

It starts off quite slow, but once the real story kicks in, is really really powerful. It makes me wonder whether it will happen to me. I think it's a really good film.