A One Mann’s Movies review of “500 Miles”. (2026, 4*, 12A).
A quiet little drama, “500 Miles” has a terrifically talented cast and an intriguing story that pulls off the trick that few films have managed in the past: a twist that you really don’t see coming. And like “Fight Club”, “The Crying Game”, “The Sixth Sense”, “The Usual Suspects”…. if you’ve seen the film, DON’T be an arse and spoil it for anyone else! This review will be specifically spoiler free.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Finn (Roman Griffin Davis) is not having a happy time at home in Sheffield, with his parents Clare (Clare Dunn) and Dan (Michael Socha) on the brink of divorce. It’s all a massive change from the previous year, before Clare was estranged from her Irish father (Bill Nighy). Finn decides to take action and with his younger brother Charlie (Dexter Sol Ansell) in tow, he embarks on a 500 miles coach and sea journey to Dingle on Ireland’s west coast to visit his Grandad.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: NR. (From the BBFC website: “Infrequent strong language.”)
Talent:
Starring: Bill Nighy, Roman Griffin Davis, Maisie Williams, Clare Dunne, Michael Socha, Dexter Sol Ansell, Deirdre Monaghan.
Directed by: Morgan Matthews.
Written by: Malcolm Campbell. (Based on the book, “Charlie and Me: 421 Miles from Home” by Mark Lowery.)
Running Time: 1h 42m.
Review:
Positives:
- This is a movie best served cold. I went into it with zero knowledge of what it was about, having never seen the trailer, and was taken on a wonderful journey (literally and figuratively) following Finn and Charlie on their road trip. The film opens with the idyll of the past: a family trip to an Irish beach in the sunshine. Sure, Granny (Deirdre Monaghan) is showing some signs of dementia, but it is a happy time for Finn and Charlie: one of those lasting happy memories of childhood. But then the opening title comes and the screen turns black and silent for a second or two longer than feels comfortable. When we return, we are a few years (undefined) in the future and the situation is very different. Grandad is now persona non gratia with Clare, not even taking his calls; Clare and Dan are arguing constantly; and Dan and Charlie lurk in their bedroom afraid to get dragged into it. The script brilliantly hides the issues, only peeling back the onion skin of the story, sometimes in real day; sometimes in flashback, until you as the viewer learn the truth. The truth is like a gut punch: I was actually watching this film entirely alone in a screen so I was able to shout out “NO!!” when the veil was lifted. A memorable movie moment.
- I thought this was one of Bill Nighy’s best performance in years. I had the joy of briefly meeting Nighy at a London theatre, and despite being pestered constantly by nerdy fans like me, he was the epitome of charm. But I have often criticised some of his performances for dropping in far too many “Nighy-isms”: his characteristic twitches and gurns that are his trademark. They sometimes get annoying. Here, with most of his face obscured by a bushy-bushy-beard, and sporting a (slightly variable) Irish accent, Nighy plays the part really straight and I only caught one ‘Nighy-ism’ in the whole film.
- Playing the part of Finn is Roman Griffin Davis who has grown up a lot since “Jojo Rabbit” 7 years ago and is now a terrific young talent that you can see going a long way in the industry: he’s been making some great choices, including “Silent Night” and “The Long Walk” to counter for the odd duff movie (“Greenland 2“, I’m looking at you!) Here he is teamed for a good part of the movie with Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”; “The New Mutants“) playing a ukulele-playing traveller called Cait, and the pair really sizzle on the screen. Given the 10 year age difference between the pair (now 29 and 19), this is portrayed as a ‘helper’ relationship in the film (as Cait says “Going out of our way to help tourists is kind of our (Irish) superpower”), but you can see through Davis’s acting that there is a bit of a crush building there as well. They really bounce off each other well, and a scene where Cait busks with the song “Road to Nowhere” to raise money from a conveniently passing bus load of tourists is one of the film’s feelgood high-spots.
- The relationship between Finn and Charlie also feels real and natural. Charlie is portrayed as a sickly but overactive ball of cheekiness. His grandmother, even in her dementia-ridden state, still recognises him as “little bollocks”. Finn and Charlie are like typical brothers – loving each other but at the same time, Charlie sometimes drives Finn to distraction: all the more so on this difficult road trip where messing about could derail their whole project. Dexter Sol Ansell plays the precocious young Charlie very well, although some of the scenes between the pair feel nicely improvised!
- This is another great advertisement to assist the Irish Tourist Board: the scenery of the West of Ireland is just glorious.
- The music score by Jamie Duffy and Atli Örvarsson is just terrific, especially the emotional piano cues in the closing of the film.
Negatives:
- There is a particular film that I could mention that reminded me of this film (but would be a spoiler). That film could be watched multiple times and it all held together. I’m not 100% positive that I could say the same for this film. I think there was a plot hole or two that wouldn’t bear close examination: a scene in a Dublin bus station is one in particular that I can’t rationalise.
Summary Thoughts:
Morgan Matthews’ last film was from four years ago – “The Railway Children Return” – which I’m afraid I was not kind about. But I thought this movie is class and a surprise in being so engaging.
I’ve seen various grumpy reviews (for example, this one from The Guardian) complaining its mushy and sentimental slop. But I strongly disagree. I would urge you to try to catch it in the cinema before it disappears. But I recommend to take tissues: its an emotional journey.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0pP7xKvFJ0.
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