3553. The Age Of Adaline (2015)

Starring: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Running Time: 113 mins

The Age Of Adaline is an American film about a 29 year-old woman who, after an accident, becomes immune to the ageing process, a secret she must keep as she lives through the decades.

A fantastically sleek drama with a wonderful dash of magical realism, The Age Of Adaline is a thoroughly entertaining watch from start to finish, evolving from intimate character study to a deeply touching story of romance and the life cycle.

With brilliantly assured direction from Lee Toland Krieger, The Age Of Adaline floats through the decades in effortlessly beautiful fashion, with its sleek cinematography, elegant musical score and understated lead performance all playing into a film with such a warm, comfortable atmosphere.

But more than being a cosy picture book, The Age Of Adaline has a genuinely captivating story to tell as well. Following the trials of a woman who cannot age, the film picks up at a part of her endless life where she finds herself at a crossroads, between finally settling down to be happy, or continuously moving around and restarting new lives again and again.

It’s a clever nuance that makes the film’s premise more than just a gimmick, and the screenplay lends a lot of attention to explaining it with understated subtext. That means The Age Of Adaline is a slow-moving film, but that patient pacing is far more of a strength, playing in wonderfully to its atmosphere and deeply touching screenplay.

The first half of the film counts on Blake Lively’s effortlessly graceful performance to help us bond with Adaline as she navigates one of the toughest periods of her eternal existence. It’s a wonderfully intimate character study that makes for a captivating watch, but it’s the second half of the film that really hits home.

Without spoiling anything about the film’s latter stages, The Age Of Adaline cleverly and swiftly evolves from touching, fantasy character study to a deeply moving and real portrayal of the power of love. Retaining a degree of magical realism to the last minute, this movie brings together a plethora of genres in gorgeous fashion, delivering thoroughly captivating and touching drama from start to finish. So, that’s why I’m giving The Age Of Adaline a 7.6 overall.