A Home at the end of the World

Read Matt's interview with Colin Farrell

A story that spans three decades in the space of 90 minutes, A Home at the end of the World follows the life of Bobby (Farrell) through childhood (and the awful sudden death of his brother) in 67 Ohio through to 74 where the now orphaned Bobby finds himself being virtually adopted by the Glover family, having got to know the gawky Jonathan Glover (Roberts) at school and soon after, his warm-hearted mother Alice (Spacek).

The film then leaps forward again to 80’s New York where Bobby comes to live, hooking up again with his friend Jonathan and his best friend Clare (Penn) and the film then follows the fortunes of this bohemian trio through love, insecurities, parties, petty jealousies and sexual awakenings.

Taken from Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Michael Cunningham (The Hours), A Home at the end of the World is one of those derivative buddy movies that follows friendships over several decades. Theatre director Michael Mayer has concentrated on imbuing the whole thing with great attention to period detail and betraying a clear talent for knowing how to get the best out of actors.

It’s a story that addresses the insecurities in all of us. The frailties of life, the forming of relationships, the sometimes absurd new directions we take in terms of career or living location and most of all, it leaves you feeling comfortable in the company of Jonathan and Bobby.

Farrell is good – giving Bobby a heart and vulnerability that are admirable, he is ably supported by Roberts and Penn, leaving Spacek to give the outstanding performance (albeit in a cameo role) as Jonathan’s mother. This is a film with a real heartbeat and soul. It ends on a seemingly inconsequential note towards the end but a great deal has been packed into 90 mins and in the company of real people over several decades that has to be worth something, even though you feel the film could have gone further still.

by Matt Arnoldi