Now Is Good (2012)

We all know death is the only certain thing that will happen to us. But the thought of living everyday as it were our last is probably taken seriously only by those with an expiration date on their backs.

"Now Is Good" is a compelling drama that raises those questions about how you would plan your remaining days when all you can do is wait for the final curtain. Dakota Fanning is an amazing young actress who can light up the room and yet bring tears to your eyes on a story that moves and inspires. It is many times depressing but also full of life, where the main characters depict so well how everyone around the patient suffers from different angles, ironically making the terminally ill seem stronger than everybody else. Beautiful. *** Director: Ol Parker

Fmovies: "Our life is a series of momentsÂ… let them goÂ…"

I don't need to go into my decreasing expectation of Dakota Fanning movies as I tend to do it with each of her movies since around 2007… needless to say, I likely wouldn't have been rushing to see this one – which from the outside appears as yet another not-even-Oscar-baiting cancer pity porn story (if you'll excuse the extreme shorthand) with the added "oh no…" factor of Fanning doing her best English accent to boot*. But I got free tickets, and who was I to pass up my first chance to see one of my (despite everything, still) favourite actresses on the big screen for the first time since 2005?

The by-the-numbers story here has Fanning as Tessa, who is dying of leukaemia, has passed the point of expecting treatment to help, and wants to get a few things done before she goes. This in itself, of course, does not an enriching 90 minutes make (not for me, anyway). But while there's certainly a few bad clichés of this kind of story in here (and one particularly awful moment – I shall just say "sweetcorn"…), the reason Now Is Good continued to pull me in is because of this light of a character at its core.

As I said I was worried I'd be adding this movie to a long list of recent Dakota Fanning movies (okay, mainly the Twilight movies) that lead me to ask, frustrated, "what are you doing, Dakota?" – but you can see why she was drawn to this one, despite any of its leanings toward cliché. Tessa responds to the generic way the world usually deals with terminal illness in the same way I always imagine I would (yes – I'll it admit it – I imagine it enough to be able to say such a thing, lol, now who's pitying?), and I connected to her fast – the way her face lights up the moment she spots a hint of mischief in a person, such as when her brother asks at the breakfast table (much to their father's dismay), "when Tessa dies can we go on holiday?" or how she talks back to her doctor ("Good girl." "Would you like to slap my rump? …then stop talking to me like a horse…") She really doesn't want any pity, for herself or anyone (as she says to her love towards the end, "Don't you dare expect me to feel sorry for you because you get left behind, don't you f-ing dare!") but she certainly doesn't deny the creeping darkness of her imminent death either.

There's a ropey segment in which Tessa and her friend go on an attempted crime spree in a shopping centre that smacks awfully of a teen movie cliché I thought long-since past, and the aforementioned unbelievable attempt to cut through one of the movie's most horrific glimpses of disease with the comedy of "sweetcorn" – but even these lows are ultimately countered by terrific performance, not just from Fanning but from the support cast including Paddy Considine and Olivia Williams (both of whom, post-sweetcorn scene, share the best non-Fanning scene in the movie, as she asks him, "Can I stay?"). There are lesser clichés that also ring less hokey for the same reasons, such as Fanning enjoying an air tunnel type ride (her face in this scene is too beautiful to even consider being cynical), a stolen kiss under fireworks, and the horses that ride past at the end – but by that point I was so in love with Tessa they could have played in "This Woman's Work" or "Fields of Gold" over such imagery and still not offended me… it reall

I must say the tag-line doesn't come close to doing this film justice. There is so much more to it – a thoughtful, uplifting story about a difficult subject. This is without doubt the best film about dying I've ever seen. If you're a softy then it's a two-box tissue weepy but in no way is this film ever depressing. It's a little sugary at times but on the whole a nice balance is struck between dealing with the sadness of death and the joy of life. The writing and direction are spot-on, and the performances are without exception faultless. It's heartening without being sentimental, funny without being glib.

I should reveal I am Fanning's number one fan and also at times her harshest critic. I have a love-hate relationship with her, having watched her develop from the most amazing child actor of all time into what can appear at times a rather lack-lustre adult performer with a dubious choice of off-set professional partnerships. However my opinion of late has changed and I've come to the conclusion Dakota is simply and pleasantly naive in many ways - and I mean that in the nicest possible way; she has a certain innocent charm that most young people today seem to be devoid of, and I mention it only because this role seemed tailor-made for her, and perhaps because I understand her better as an actor and as a person now.

OK so the English accent was not perfect - it fluctuated a little and sounded much better when she was being loud and emotional; a little too 1950s prim-and-proper at other times. Kids in England tend not to speak like that now, but to her credit there was never the slightest hint of the native Georgian-cum-West Coast burr. I'd also take issue with the hair stylist that issued what was presumably a wig, the first of the two styles in the movie looked quite dreadful and unrealistic. Later on we see her with medium-length hair which actually looked natural and quite suits her slightly boyish features.

The art of Fanning is however in the subtlety of her performances these days - possibly an antidote to the oft-maligned enthusiasm of her early career, or maybe just a result of thoughtful maturity and trying harder to look natural. For me it didn't quite work in The Runaways (although that still remains my favourite Dakota film) but it fits perfectly the role of Tessa Scott. If you take the time to watch this film alone and study Tessa closely, you will hopefully appreciate the performance as I do.

As a fan I could happily waffle on all day about Dakota, but I have to say there wasn't a duff performance in this movie. All the actors played perfectly, especially Paddy Considine who gives the under-stated performance of his life. He also gets some of the best lines, maybe not enough of them, but I have to say he was an inspired choice for Tessa's dad and I have a new respect for him as an actor. Irvine, Williams, little Edgar Canham, delicious Kaya Scodelario, Dr Wadham - they all deserve the accolades.

This is British story-telling at its best, a knack we've lost in recent years as American and European films have shone in that department. Don't be put off by the subject matter - this is a film that might just change your view of life and death. As Tessa says, "Life is a series of moments". Think about what that means for all of us and enjoy this film.

Now Is Good fmovies. American Dakota Fanning leads the cast in this British production about a teen terminally ill from leukemia who wants to crowd all she can in the months or maybe weeks she has remaining. Prominent on the list is that she wants to lose her virginity.

Bring some industrial strength Kleenex to the theater because you'll need it. Fanning gives a sincere and somewhat restrained performance considering the circumstances. Her parents Paddy Considine and Olivia Williams also do well.

If I was going to have a first and last love I couldn't do much better than young James Irvine who scored very big Steven Spielberg's The War Horse. He's the perfect handsome and sensitive youth that anyone would fall for. His role is a supporting one, yet you'll remember him as much as you do Fanning.

Although her British accent could have used some improvement and I suspect that she was cast so that the film could draw some dollars in the American market, Fanning is just fine in the role. You'll not soon forget her in Now Is Good.

The premise is a bit of a drag but it's a drama, and a really good one at that. The film is emotional, moving and funny. It's an amazing experience, you get into Tessa's mind and you understand the character. She's sweet strong and clearly has grown with all that's happen to her but she's still a teenager with her fears and her aspirations. She sort of wants her life back and experience things like any regular teenager.

The cast is amazing, they make sense, it's a great ensemble. Paddy Considine is so good in this movie, such a great dad and I love the fact that the dad is the one facing things head on, not running away, denying or escaping the hardship. Olivia Williams is perfect as the flawed mother. Edgar Canham is so sweet and brilliant I love how they wrote it and how he played it.

Jeremy Irvine is not just the pretty boy next door and played Adam with an innocence that was perfect for the role. Kaya Scodelario is also a gem in the movie and she might be playing another flawed teenager but her relationship with Tessa (Dakota Fanning) is very much how I would expect a real friend to be when her best friend is dealing with cancer.

The movie feel very artistic, truthful and honest. The Family and friends are very real which gives the film a raw aspect even though it is made with taste and humor. Now is Good shows a different side of young people, the film is intelligent, inspirational and is not just about falling in love with someone and having sex with them. I think the movie does cancer justice, it's not sugar coating things or getting horribly pitiful.

The film is wrapped with humor but hits the emotional notes. You'll probably be touched watching and it'll stay with you. The cast brought weight and humor to the film. It was one of the best movie I've seen in 2012 I am so glad I saw it. I would highly recommend the film.

@wornoutspines

My friend recommended this movie to me with a warning of you're going to need tissues. Let me just say, I don't cry watching movies, but this, honestly I have never cried so much. It was an amazing movie portraying the different emotions felt by the family. It wasn't just about a girl fulfilling her bucket list, but about falling in love, others being her rock and her being other peoples rock when they needed it the most and how the smallest things have such a big impact. The tenderness of the relationships was beautiful. Dakota Fanning did an amazing job as did Jeremy Irvine. What a wonderful and beautiful way to portray young love in such a sad situation. Would highly recommend this movie.