Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Rodrigo Amaro Coming on the same path of films like "Dad" (1989) and "I Never Sang to My Father" (1970), Anand Tucker's film "When Did You Last See Your Father?" is another good example of a picture about a man examining his life and father's life after his father's illness and realizing that he'll no longer be living and the way he must deal with him, a man he didn't liked much for multiple reasons.Colin Firth plays Blake, the son in his adult days as a writer, remembering his childhood and teenage years (played brilliantly by Matthew Beard) with his father (Jim Broadbent) traveling, or in moments with his family where in one way or another his sportive dad always make fun of him to others, and his affair with other women, which is the cause of this bitterness with his father since Blake adored his mother (Juliet Stevenson) so much. Will Blake leave this past behind and try to know better what his father is or he'll keep the same feeling even now that he's recollecting all this memories about his life? The movie displays a enormous sense of emotion, but nothing so tear jacker but that depends on your view of life or movies and your personal experiences. While the film was more interesting in portraying Blake in his teen years where we know why he became the man we know, in his adult moments it wasn't too much interesting, although the performances were great. I expected something more dramatic in those moments, just like the duel Gene Hackman and Melvyn Douglas had in "I Never Sang to My Father"; Blake could have a more face to face moment where he exposes himself to his father of why he didn't liked him and the impressions of the father on Blake too, this is missing and in terms of films it could have reach a higher note, a bright difference that would make of "When Did You Last See Your Father?" a more memorable experience. It has some clichés of the genre and even with that it succeeds in being a good film with some funny parts (the young Blake having sex with his maid and hiding her in the bedroom in what they called 'the sex patrol' made by the father every time he entered the room) and well constructed dialogs. Firth, Broadbent, Stevenson are all great in scene, but Matthew Beard is the key figure here, a rare young talented actor in the role of Blake, a teenager more interested in his books than in his father and other amusements. For those who can recall by the name he plays Carey Mulligan's friend Graham in "An Education", the one who's interested in her all the time but she doesn't care much about him, and as a coincidence she's also in this film in a bit part.I liked it, enjoyed a lot, even though it could have been more instigating story or try to present something I haven't seen it. But everything presented here made of "When Did You Last See Your Father?" a very positive and reflective film. 8/10

martys-7 This is one of the truest depictions of the dynamics experienced by many fathers and sons. Based on Blake Morrison's autobiographical book, this relatively short film (90 plus minutes) depicts the love, anger, embarrassment, jealousy, and regret experienced by a son towards his larger-than-life father. Colin Firth gives a convincing performance as the successful London writer who must confront these conflictive feelings when he returns to the country home of his youth to be with his dying father and reminisces about their moments together while the truth continues to elude him. In another stellar turn, Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent is brilliant as the exuberant, self-confident physician father who despite his good intentions, generous spirit, and warm affection cannot win his son's love due to his insensitivity. An excellent supporting cast and the beauty of the British countryside further enhance this bittersweet slice of family life where love, resentment, and a regret are tangled in a son's heart and questions about his father may never be answered. The movie's main point and the reason for its success is to portrait its characters honestly neither as heroes nor as villains without providing an easy resolution.A must see for all those who have loved and lost their fathers. Although the film is not actually sentimental, there is a scene of raw emotional power between father and son that will move anybody to tears.

Seamus2829 After seeing 'When Did You Last See Your Father?', I was reminded that I was relieved that when I lost my Father a scant four years ago, we parted on very good terms. This is a powder keg of a film that manages to spill many tears & hidden truths about a father & son. The story, taken from the true accounts by writer Blake Morrison,is about the love/hate, love/love, hate/hate relationship Morrison shared with his own father, played to perfection by Jim Broadbent (of many a Mike Leigh film). Besides the well written/adapted screenplay,top notch direction & superb acting by the entire cast, I really admired the photography, utilizing light & dark & positioning as a framing device. The films's editing is a sight to behold, too (the way the action cuts back & forth in time over a period of 30 plus years). Hopefully, when Oscar time rolls around next year, 'When Did You Last See Your Father' will be a prime contender for at least a couple of awards.

george.schmidt WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? (2008) ***1/2 Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee, Sarah Lancashire, Elaine Cassidy, Claire Skinner, Matthew Beard, Bradley Johnson. Wonderful father/son drama based on the novel by Blake Morrison (adapted smartly by David Nicholls) about his troubled relationship with his boisterous, yet loving father (Broadbent in one of his best performances to date) that only gets further complicated when his dad is dying and Blake (Firth also equally excellent) trying to come to grips with his conflicted feelings of his youth and present state of mind. Filmmaker Anand Tucker gently yet effectively delivers a humanely decent depiction of the push/pull dynamic of the parent/child bond with truly winning performances by his two stars.