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Better Things (2008)

Director: Duane Hopkins

Time Out rating

Average user rating

12 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

The ironies are always cruel and never comic in British writer-director Duane Hopkins’s striking debut, an austere, though empathetic, insightful and technically crisp slice of social realism. Intertwining a series of dead-end vignettes comprising teenage chemical dependents, a bickering elderly couple and a woman on her deathbed, Hopkins cannily juxtaposes the squandered promise of youth with the vulnerability of old age.

As a director, he certainly has a knack for camera movement and framing, often locating a gaunt poetry at the heart of the squalor while blanketing the drama in a woozy, quiet-loud-quiet sound design. There are some rough edges, most notably a total rejection of the potential for happiness which is relayed in the shady green and blue photography and the artificially lifeless intonation of dialogue, but there is more than enough here to be excited about. And while it reminds of Lynne Ramsay, Bruno Dumont and Harmony Korine’s ‘Gummo’, it also retains a tang of its own.

Author: David Jenkins 2008-10-17 15:03:11

Time Out London Issue 2005, 22-28 Jan. 2009

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User reviews of this film

lou said...

Posted on Jun 12 2009 15:30 a truely stunning film. beautiful artistry and veru composed film making. a film i definately need to see again.

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Mike Randle (Joel) said...

Posted on Apr 22 2009 13:25 What Kurt (Larry) said...

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Penners said...

Posted on Apr 06 2009 12:42 Beautiful, moving and thought provoking, aspects which more often than not are lost in todays film market.

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Emma said...

Posted on Apr 04 2009 01:08 love the silences

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Kurt Taylor said...

Posted on Apr 03 2009 12:46 A brilliant piece of cinematography produced by a very creative group of individuals with an alternative approach to film that works beautifully. Better Things is a film you can take what you like out of and will ultimately leave you breathless and wanting more. Must see for all, old and young.

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Von said...

Posted on Apr 03 2009 03:59 Such a fantastic film that carried me along for the whole journey. Great use of sound and symbolism.

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Christian said...

Posted on Apr 02 2009 23:52 A great watch - well done all! Needs all the press it can get!

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Alice said...

Posted on Apr 02 2009 22:57 Splendid, truly splendid...

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Brendan O'Neill said...

Posted on Apr 02 2009 20:07 Really enjoyed Duane Hopkins "Better Things". Remarkable for a first feature. Dark, sad, poetic, beautiful, brooding - a gem!

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Matthew McKinnon said...

Posted on Jan 27 2009 14:13 Sorry for typo in earlier post.

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Matthew McKinnon said...

Posted on Jan 27 2009 14:12 Why isn't this film anywhere on the main film page? Why are films like this - that get good a good review here! - allowed to slip through the cracks and disappear?
Looking forward to seeing this later in the week.

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Gary O'Conner said...

Posted on Jan 22 2009 11:00 Great film can't wait to see it again next week

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