Review of 45 Years (2015) by Sheldon O — 04 Feb 2016

I was very resistant to this movie for most of it's length, largely because Courtney's character is such an annoying ass, it is hard to see why this woman should care whether he ever loved her or not.

But then the final scene happens. First, Courtney gives a remarkable speech which, in a lesser, more sentimental film, would lead to a happy resolution. But then they dance, to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," and we watch Rampling realize what this song had to have meant to Courtney the first time they danced to it: a lament for his lost love.

And her resentment builds to a single gesture that justifies the entire movie. It is an absolutely shattering moment, all the more powerful in that only we are aware of it. For most of the running time, I was thinking: "This isn't a great performance; it is great exploitation of an extraordinary face.

" But then that dance happens, and Rampling stakes her claim as one of the great film actresses of all time. This is a terribly depressing film, but you should still see it, just for that moment; it is THAT powerful.