Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»3114. 23 Walks (2020)

    3114. 23 Walks (2020)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on October 7, 2020 100-109 mins, 2020, 6 - 7.9, Drama, Movies Of 2020, Oct 20, Review, Romance, United Kingdom
    7.5 Touching
    • Acting 7.6
    • Directing 7.4
    • Story 7.4
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Dave Johns, Alison Steadman, Graham Cole

    Director: Paul Morrison

    Running Time: 102 mins


    23 Walks is a British film about a man and a woman in their sixties who meet while walking their dogs, and form a deep bond over the course of twenty-three walks together.

    23 Walks is one of those films that tries hard to remain earnest, grounded and understated. With wonderful performances from Dave Johns and Alison Steadman, it manages that well, although struggles to capture the imagination during its opening stages with little interesting dramatic conflict.

    Things begin to look up later on, when the film strays into more challenging and more touching territory, but it’s fair to say that 23 Walks just doesn’t have enough going for it during its first forty or so minutes.

    To see Johns and Steadman bonding so organically is really lovely, but the progression of their relationship is a little too simplistic, with the screenplay leaving the first dramatic twist of fate a little too long.

    What’s more is that the film’s dialogue isn’t quite there, with a style that seems more like an on-stage production than a movie. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but during the first act, I really felt like I was watching a story that would have been much better performed on a small stage.

    Saying that, the film eventually brings in some dramatic conflict about halfway through, and it slowly begins to become a more interesting watch. Initially, the first twist is a little abrupt and even unconvincing, but the chain of events that it sets off is what makes 23 Walks ultimately such a touching watch.

    From a perfectly pleasant if not simplistic story about love in later life, the film evolves into an engrossing perspective on coping with grief and loss, as well as the unavoidable and often deeply unfair challenges that real life can throw at you.

    When the film moves focus from Steadman and Johns’ fledgling romance to a story that looks more intimately at Johns’ life, it really begins to hit home with more challenging drama. At times, things look very rosy, and at others they look very dark, but 23 Walks always keeps its understated style, which is definitely commendable.

    Overall, I liked 23 Walks, even if it took a little too long to really get into its stride. A fluffy if not overly simplistic tale at first, the film eventually evolves into a gripping drama with something to say, complete by an impressive lead turn from Dave Johns alongside Alison Steadman.

    The film isn’t perfect all the way through, with often imperfect dialogue and some less-than-convincing twists of fate, but it’s a touching and intimate drama for the most part, which is why I’m giving 23 Walks a 7.5.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.5
    Review
    September 29, 20160

    1501. Sully (2016)

    8.0
    Review
    August 30, 20190

    2663. Wildlife (2018)

    8.7
    Review
    March 18, 20160

    1289. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

    8.7
    Review
    December 27, 20130

    396. Buried (2010)

    8.1
    Review
    January 11, 20210

    3214. The Price Of Gold (2014)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.