Neeson and Manville have a chemistry that I have rarely seen. Their banter their body languague everything is so believable and relatable. They share a love that is in the little things. They don't have to talk about love you can see it in the way they spend their time together. Watch them go through the worst of times always knowing that they have each other. A great movie about sacrifice, love, loyalty and hope. Honest in it's pictures and performances.
54 Reviews
Gentle, touching, relatable
bazzer-5766320 January 2020
A slow-paced, thoughtful, minutely-observed drama following the progress of a long-married couple after a cancer diagnosis.
Superbly acted, the couple are as familiar to each other as a pair of warm slippers, but their relationship is strained as chemotherapy and the unspoken fear of the final separation take their toll. Hovering behind them throughout everything is the ghost of their daughter, whose death is never explained but who is never far away.
The movie does not rub our noses in medical horrors, but at the same time it faithfully chronicles the process of cancer treatment without ever resorting to sentimentality.
Liam Neeson is a terrific actor. Presumably, a relentlessly low-key movie such as this signifies that he's no longer interested in super-stardom (if indeed he ever was) and is simply doing stuff that he really wants to do. Long may it continue.
Superbly acted, the couple are as familiar to each other as a pair of warm slippers, but their relationship is strained as chemotherapy and the unspoken fear of the final separation take their toll. Hovering behind them throughout everything is the ghost of their daughter, whose death is never explained but who is never far away.
The movie does not rub our noses in medical horrors, but at the same time it faithfully chronicles the process of cancer treatment without ever resorting to sentimentality.
Liam Neeson is a terrific actor. Presumably, a relentlessly low-key movie such as this signifies that he's no longer interested in super-stardom (if indeed he ever was) and is simply doing stuff that he really wants to do. Long may it continue.
Sometimes simple is best
muamba_eats_toast6 December 2019
Sometimes keeping a film simple and not overdoing it with dramatic music or big set plays actually allows a film to resonate to a larger extent and that's certainly the case here. A reminder that Neeson is actually quite the versatile actor with the right material and a powerful lead alongside him. Emotional and a story that will likely effect most of us at sometime an intelligent, respectful yet all the powerful for it film that did not overstate or understate in any department but struck the perfect tone. Not necessarily for everyone but I for one thought it was fantastic.
Realistic story about ordinary love, husband and wife in their 60s.
TxMike4 July 2020
As I watched this I found myself wondering how younger folks react to this movie. My wife and I are in a similar situation, older, retired, and long-time married. Our daily life and conversations are not that different from what is depicted here.
Lesley Manville (early 60s) is Joan and Liam Neeson (late 60s) is her husband Tom. As the movie begins they are on one of their walks, her short legs must move almost twice as fast as his. After they cross the bridge and get to a certain tree they turn around and head back. About 12 months later the movie ends the very same way.
In between Joan discovers a lump in one of her breasts and this starts a series of doctor visits, hospital visits, treatments, and making unexpected new friends. The movie examines the relationship between the long-time married couple, their devotion to each other, their working together to get past this big speed bump in life.
This is a good movie, we enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. Romantic attraction is usually what gets a couple together but ordinary love is what keeps them together.
Lesley Manville (early 60s) is Joan and Liam Neeson (late 60s) is her husband Tom. As the movie begins they are on one of their walks, her short legs must move almost twice as fast as his. After they cross the bridge and get to a certain tree they turn around and head back. About 12 months later the movie ends the very same way.
In between Joan discovers a lump in one of her breasts and this starts a series of doctor visits, hospital visits, treatments, and making unexpected new friends. The movie examines the relationship between the long-time married couple, their devotion to each other, their working together to get past this big speed bump in life.
This is a good movie, we enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. Romantic attraction is usually what gets a couple together but ordinary love is what keeps them together.
Not your typical Hollywood cancer drama
paul-allaer8 March 2020
"Ordinary Love" (2019 release from the UK; 92 min.) brings the story of Tom and Joan. As the movie opens, Tom and Joan are taking their daily walk along the water, and we then see them watching telly. When Joan takes a shower, she feels a lump in her left breast. She goes to the doctor and after a mammogram, she gets the news that she has cancer... 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 latest movie from the Northern Ireland husband and wife co-directors Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Layburn. Here they examine the fallout of dealing with cancer on a long-married couple. There isn't much of a plot, other than to see whether Joan makes it through. Instead, we look at the devastating effect of dealing with cancer on their daily lives. Hospital visit after hospital visit. "I'm frightened", Joan confesses to Tom, and he tries to be supportive as best as he can, all along being frightened himself (but not saying so to Joan). There are some side stories that bear out on this but which I don't want to spoil here. Just watch. What makes this movie different is that it isn't your typical Hollywood cancer drama (think: The Fault In Our Stars; A Walk to Remember, etc.), but instead a nitty gritty look at dealing with cancer. Some scenes are difficult to watch, and other will move you to tears. The two leads are outstanding, with Leslie Manville as Joan and Liam Neeson as Tom. Neeson returns to his Northern Irish roots for this film, and thankfully stays MILES away from his recent action figure characters (the "Taken" franchise, "The Commuter:, "Cold Pursuit"). It is easily his best role in YEARS.
"Ordinary Love" premiered at last Fall's Toronto International Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim, and is now getting a limited US theater release. It opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati and the Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was attended so-so (8 people in total). No, this film isn't going to amass big box office, as for that it's way too difficult to watch, but if you look behind the obvious struggles of these people, you'll notice a celebration of deep love and friendship, and indeed life itself. If that appeals to you, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from the Northern Ireland husband and wife co-directors Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Layburn. Here they examine the fallout of dealing with cancer on a long-married couple. There isn't much of a plot, other than to see whether Joan makes it through. Instead, we look at the devastating effect of dealing with cancer on their daily lives. Hospital visit after hospital visit. "I'm frightened", Joan confesses to Tom, and he tries to be supportive as best as he can, all along being frightened himself (but not saying so to Joan). There are some side stories that bear out on this but which I don't want to spoil here. Just watch. What makes this movie different is that it isn't your typical Hollywood cancer drama (think: The Fault In Our Stars; A Walk to Remember, etc.), but instead a nitty gritty look at dealing with cancer. Some scenes are difficult to watch, and other will move you to tears. The two leads are outstanding, with Leslie Manville as Joan and Liam Neeson as Tom. Neeson returns to his Northern Irish roots for this film, and thankfully stays MILES away from his recent action figure characters (the "Taken" franchise, "The Commuter:, "Cold Pursuit"). It is easily his best role in YEARS.
"Ordinary Love" premiered at last Fall's Toronto International Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim, and is now getting a limited US theater release. It opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati and the Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was attended so-so (8 people in total). No, this film isn't going to amass big box office, as for that it's way too difficult to watch, but if you look behind the obvious struggles of these people, you'll notice a celebration of deep love and friendship, and indeed life itself. If that appeals to you, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Mundane, turbulent, beautiful.
Pjtaylor-96-13804417 December 2019
'Ordinary Love (2019)' is exactly what it says on the tin: a portrait of mundane, turbulent, beautiful love. It charts the journey of a couple moving through tough times and is as thoughtful and nuanced as you'd hope. Its story is rather straightforward (it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect), but it delivers what it needs to and feels all the more 'real' because of it. The focus of the film is something that isn't actually explored all that often and it's great to see it portrayed so sensitively here. The picture's grounded, non-'romanticised' romance is brilliant, too. It feels as close to 'real' as possible, an honest and moving exploration of love that never seems heightened or false. The two stars deliver the goods in their subtle, harder-than-you-may-expect roles, coming together as a compelling pair of, essentially, 'real people'. They have flaws and they argue but they also have an undeniable connection. When this is exploited, it's really heart-warming. When it comes down to it, though, the flick just isn't all that exciting or, perhaps, impactful. It's engaging enough and never even close to boring, but it doesn't quite hit home as hard as it ought to. It's good, don't get me wrong. I can't quite put into words what it is that is, for me, missing. I guess I'll say it like this: it's good, but it's not great. 6/10
A quietly powerful drama
Sir_AmirSyarif5 June 2021
Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn's 'Ordinary Love' tells exactly the story promised by its title - gently and precisely chronicles a year of crisis in the life of a most ordinary married couple. This might not sound like the most enticing formula but it is a very moving film that cuts straight to the bone and onto the heart without even trying. Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville are superb together. The terrific chemistry between the actors help elevate the story above cancer clichés or cheap sentimentality.
Quite but Powerful Film
albertval-695605 April 2022
It's a lovely, quiet movie. It's how a mature couple would respond to something as dreadful as cancer. In the end, it's their unwavering
love for each other with a dash of humor, and sometimes pigheadedness, that wins the day. But, more important, in this time of challenge, they are able to reach out to others in the same situation.
Tom and Joan are a lovely couple. Their acting is so natural, and it's what extraordinary love looks like.
Tom and Joan are a lovely couple. Their acting is so natural, and it's what extraordinary love looks like.
Really good story
imdb-ikysmoviedatabase10 September 2019
Nice Little Movie
Mehki_Girl1 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
As the second half of a long married (30 years) older couple in it's late sixties who went through breast cancer treatment not too long ago (7 years ago) and, indeed, had a breast biopsy over 20 years ago, this true to life movie resonated with me.
The comfortable watching the TV and talking through it. The daily little squabbles quickly forgiven and forgotten. The getting on each other's nerves and then the little moments of caring, affection, and love rang so true.
No big Hollywood score drowning out dialog or telling us how to feel. Just a slice of life, outlining the fear of which one of us is going to go first, of what, when, and how that plays constantly in the back of my mind.
This came up on my Hulu after we watched an unexpected romance movie (we thought it would be just an action/adventure film), saw Liam Neesom on the cover and decided to watch, because he's one of my favorite actors.
Enjoy!
The comfortable watching the TV and talking through it. The daily little squabbles quickly forgiven and forgotten. The getting on each other's nerves and then the little moments of caring, affection, and love rang so true.
No big Hollywood score drowning out dialog or telling us how to feel. Just a slice of life, outlining the fear of which one of us is going to go first, of what, when, and how that plays constantly in the back of my mind.
This came up on my Hulu after we watched an unexpected romance movie (we thought it would be just an action/adventure film), saw Liam Neesom on the cover and decided to watch, because he's one of my favorite actors.
Enjoy!
More like a documentary than a movie
sznhgn3 March 2020
Though told in story format with good actors, the essence of this movie is showing exactly what a couple go through--step by step-- in discovering the wife has breast cancer in a painstakingly slow way. It was an education and I felt for the couple, and cried at the end, but must admit, I looked at my watch 4X during this relatively short movie, by today's movie standards.
Painfully realistic
daracdh28 June 2020
During the last months of her life, I helped one of my dearest friends transcribe her cancer journals. I completed the task for her after her death, and I recognized so many of her experiences in this film. The details of navigating one's personal relationships while enduring the poisonous effects of cancer treatment were among the truest I've ever seen depicted in screen. Bravo to everyone involved in putting this project together.
Gentle story telling of such a terrible disease
nickmccrorie23 August 2020
Short 90 min film by todays standards with the discovery of a lump in her breast during the first couple of minutes, the terrible journey an 'ordinary' couple have to endure, battling their own demons through the various stages of cancer treatment. Well acted and although there was chemistry between both leads, in my opinion Liam Neeson was ultimately miscast. There was just something missing which another carefully chosen actor may have been able to deliver. I am a fan of Neeson but I Just didn't care for him in this role.
Nope
PipAndSqueak11 February 2020
A couple of star actors attempt to fill the gaps a poor script leaves them. Meanwhile, the director fails to spot easy to accomplish film scenes that require little other than a bit of thought and setting up that would have provided depth to this very superficial film treatment. Come on you people, are you blind? This is not an every day depiction of marital love, it is a parody of what goes on between a couple when illness intrudes. Cliche follows cliche in this film which makes it just the dreamscape background to your own thoughts as you wait for this thing to end. Ok, one of the actors takes her togs off and you get to gawp, I guess that's why you'll go. There's no other reason to.
fair portrait
Kirpianuscus23 April 2020
I saw this film for lead actors. The story, at the first sigh, is too personal . And it was one of films responding, in precise and fair manner to my expectations. Because it gives the portrait of realities behind the words. Because the acting is beautiful, the story touching and, if you have one of slice from it in your own life, you know , in dipper way , why this film is special, sure, only as sketch. A powerful love story. And a great picture of fight for survive.
Great ordinary love
s28331753 June 2021
The couple who have cancer need more patient to treat each other.
Because My father has cancer , I can feel the difficulty in the family who have cancer.
Nonetheless , Life is never easy for a family ,even though they are healthy.
When the chemotherapy start,the pain began to spread , and the couple have to face the disease .
Husband loves to drink beer and the wife loves to share her motion to others. They both have the passion to live , they date with each other , they shop for the christmas.
The famous actor Lian Neeson and Lesley Manville make the ordinary movie more special.
Great ordinary love makes a ordinary life.
Because My father has cancer , I can feel the difficulty in the family who have cancer.
Nonetheless , Life is never easy for a family ,even though they are healthy.
When the chemotherapy start,the pain began to spread , and the couple have to face the disease .
Husband loves to drink beer and the wife loves to share her motion to others. They both have the passion to live , they date with each other , they shop for the christmas.
The famous actor Lian Neeson and Lesley Manville make the ordinary movie more special.
Great ordinary love makes a ordinary life.
Good Performances Elevate A Weak Script
varun-2507199710 April 2020
Oscar bait is tolerable but please do make films with reasonable scripts before venturing into the territory. Ordinary Love has good performances from both the lead actors especially from Lesley Manville but unfortunately it isn't enough to make it a great movie. A middle aged couple fight, grieve, share a happy moment, reconcile and in between we have a subplot about their late daughter's teacher. That's pretty much what Ordinary Love is about.
Difficult Subject but Film finds Important Truths
pc959 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Lisa Barros Dsa delicately and with a vast majority of screen-time reserved for stars Neeson and Manville, "Oridinary Love" is a bit difficult to rate. There is a cozy familiarity with the lead characters as if maybe neighbors which lends to believability. The subject matter of love in the in the face of decline is a universal hardship everyone must comes to terms with, but it is difficult to watch for entertainment. No one wants to think about loss and much less decline, while cancer is truly the pinnacle of merciless spectors of all diseases, stricking friends and families the world over. The truth of the script shows those with cancer as well as those supporting them suffer its ravages; the toll physically lays into the afflicted but emotionally others who support suffer often quietly or alone. This is sometime overlooked or not well addressed with support systems. "Ordinary Love" is a slow burning 90 min with tough look at love and sacrifice amid affliction, but with a touching ending. 7/10
Wonderful, Understated, Heartfelt
david-meldrum5 July 2021
A beautiful, restrained love story about a married couple dealing with a cancer diagnosis. It's a film that consistently refuses to romanticise the experience; this is a believable, honest and truthful portrayal of how ordinary people deal with horrible experiences - which of course makes I all the more romantic for its truthfulness. The central performances are wonderfully subtle - there's not a hint of grandstanding here - and everything else about the film is similarly understated; the cinematography, the lighting, the script, the production design ... everything works to make this a wonderfully moving but ultimately satisfying and quietly uplifting experience.
Not extraordinary
kevin c27 June 2020
Disappointed
lftereim6 May 2020
Ordinary but poignant
mike-vaudin22 July 2020
May be confronting to some people find acting
tm-sheehan28 March 2021
My Rating- 7/10
This is a very confronting sensitive film beautifully acted by Leslie Manville as Joan and Liam Neeson as Tom but not for the faint hearted as it doesn't sugar coat the effects of breast cancer or its effect on a relationship.
It's an Irish film and was the first film shown at the 2019 Cork International Film Festival and won 4th place as the best Irish film of 2019.
Joan and Tom have been married for many years. There is an ease to their relationship which comes from spending a lifetime together, a depth of love which expresses itself through tenderness and humour. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their relationship; they are faced with the challenges of what might happen. ORDINARY LOVE is a story about love, survival, and epic questions about life.
Beautifully directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn with an honest intelligent script by Owen McCafferty .
I particularly liked the fact that the characters included a long term same sex male couple Peter and Steve who are going through a similar scenario.
David Wilmot who plays Peter a man who Joan meets at the chemo clinic won the IFTA (Irish Film and Television Award Winner2020) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Film
Ordinary Love may not appeal to viewers because of the sad subject matter but I think it's worth seeing if only for the fine performances.
This is a very confronting sensitive film beautifully acted by Leslie Manville as Joan and Liam Neeson as Tom but not for the faint hearted as it doesn't sugar coat the effects of breast cancer or its effect on a relationship.
It's an Irish film and was the first film shown at the 2019 Cork International Film Festival and won 4th place as the best Irish film of 2019.
Joan and Tom have been married for many years. There is an ease to their relationship which comes from spending a lifetime together, a depth of love which expresses itself through tenderness and humour. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their relationship; they are faced with the challenges of what might happen. ORDINARY LOVE is a story about love, survival, and epic questions about life.
Beautifully directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn with an honest intelligent script by Owen McCafferty .
I particularly liked the fact that the characters included a long term same sex male couple Peter and Steve who are going through a similar scenario.
David Wilmot who plays Peter a man who Joan meets at the chemo clinic won the IFTA (Irish Film and Television Award Winner2020) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Film
Ordinary Love may not appeal to viewers because of the sad subject matter but I think it's worth seeing if only for the fine performances.
Same old storyline
filkyria6 April 2020
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