Most eleven-year-old boys are pass their time with trading cards and sports. But Edward (Bill Milner) is fascinated with death, life-after-death and the supernatural. This is a by-product of living in the home his parents run for elderly people. Edward has witnessed death first-hand and is curious about contacting the dead after they pass.
Living in a retirement home has caused dysfunction in the family. The constant work of caring for the aging patrons has taken the luster out of the relationship between Edwards' Mum (Anne-Marie Duff) and Dad (David Morissey). They constantly bicker and have little time for Edward, who has become mischievous with the lack of attention.
When an angry magician (Clarence, played by Michael Caine) arrives at the residence, the dynamics begin to change. After Clarence fails in his suicide attempt, he diverts his energy to helping the impish Edward. The pair develop an odd relationship as Clarence's dementia slowly settles in.
Is Anybody There places an engaging story in the unlikeliest of locales. The idea of a child being raised in a nursing home is intriguing. The relationships and family dynamics provide an excellent opportunity for dramatic effect, which writer Peter Harness capitalizes on. The characters are well developed, intriguing and engaging. The plot was captivating, but included a sub-plot that ruined a major character for me. Edward's dad was poorly constructed, making his later relationship with Edward seem forced and unnatural to me.
The two leads delivered an impeccable performance. I am certain that the presence of Michael Caine made the young Bill Milner better. The two had an awesome chemistry. I have seen Caine in a number of roles and can't recall if I have seen him in one better than this. His character has qualities that really stretch his range and require his veteran presence to maintain credibility and a likable factor. Caine makes it seem like child's play. Milner was surprisingly good as an awkward, troublesome kid that was fundamentally good.
Is Anybody There received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. The film deals quite a bit with death and dementia, which are difficult subjects for younger audiences to perceive. The subject of death is handled with a gentle touch. There was a mild adult situation and reference that was not very objectionable in my mind. The film also contained a scene of a finger being chopped off, which was almost humorous. The lead character is supposed to be eleven, so that would be a good starting point for my age recommendation. This 2008 film has a run time of one hour, 34 minutes.
Is Anybody There was good because it was touching without being contrived. The characters were dysfunctional, but not to excess. The story had a classic mentor quality that benefited from the outstanding acting from Michael Caine. Overall, the story was unique in its setting and concept, while common in its theme. But that is okay. My only issue with the film was one sub-plot that discredited a major character. That factor did not ruin this film for me. A strong recommendation. 8/10.
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