Ashes (2012) Reviews

• Superb acting, film noir, but so British and realistic!

  maryjodell2014-04-18

  Main reason for review is the change of genre for Ray Winstone who usually plays the cockney bad guy with relish to find him playing an Alzheimer's sufferer taken from the typical home on a road trip is surprising but he plays the role superbly, I knew he was good at what he normally played but this role showed his ability far more than previous roles I am happy to praise his performance as someone who years ago cared for these patients he is so realistic in the role I was shocked. It's not a happy film and I would rewrite the ending but stress Ray Winstone's performance is really worth watching, hope he does more work outside of his usual genre.

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• Different & dramatic, a big switch from Winstones previous films.

  Thrill_KillZ2013-01-29

  This is a film that isn't going to be what many viewers had in mind. You will not get your typical Ray Winstone film here, not in any form you've seen him in his prior roles. It's a tale of a son who has lost contact with his father for some time & begins to search him out. The film almost immediately starts with this goal being achieved, finding his Alzheimer ridden father at a nearby mental hospital in vary poor shape prone to very violent outbursts & unpredictability. The son is quick to break him out knowing full well it's not a good idea and leaves it's audience weary of his overall motives. There is much confusion and zero comedy as just keeping the son's father in tow is a serious problem. As the third act begins a twist is laid out bringing new life to a very depressing mood. It's well acted & filmed so no problems in that area, but I stand to believe many will find this not to be a very pleasing watch. It is listed correctly as a drama although I was kind of hoping for more action. There is a small dose towards the end. I would recommend this, but only to those that are aiming for a story driven drama which brings me to the rating of 5/10

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• King of the Road

  nogodnomasters2017-09-03

  Frank (Ray Winstone) is institutionalized because of severe Alzheimer disease. He doesn't have the cute Hollywood version where a man forgets to wear his pants from time to time, but rather one where he becomes violent and remembers things like how to hot wire automobiles. His son (Luke Evans) shows up at the institute and breaks him out, although we soon discover his reason is not as benign as it appears on the surface as Luke tries to save both Frank and his family. The film has a number of twists. The problem of dealing with an Alzheimer's patient is presented in such a way that it should be left to professionals. This is a well acted, well developed story. Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.

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• Rather dull

  Gordon-112017-04-15

  This film tells the story of a man who has to pick his father up from a mental hospital, and deliver him back home. The father in question is a man with dementia, and has very confused and hallucinatory episodes every now and then. The first half of "Ashes" tells a story of a demented man, and the soon who tries very hard to cope with the horrible symptoms of the father's dementia. The symptoms are severe but realistic, and it provokes empathy and respect for carers. The second half tells a different story, and I find it confusing and poorly built up. The interweaving flashbacks and reality of the demented man in the bar is very confusing. And the motives of the mysterious man behind the whole thing is beyond comprehension too, as there could have been much easier ways to achieve his goal. Overall, I find the film rather dull and boring.

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• Ray Winstone holds it together

  bowmanblue2014-11-30

  Most people will be more familiar with Ray Winstone as 'tough-guy' characters, so perhaps that's one reason he's decided to take a break from 'busting heads' and started to show the viewers that he's got more of a 'sensitive' side. In Ashes, he plays an Alzheimer sufferer who gets 'kidnapped' by his son from the hospital he's been committed to and then taken on a roadtrip across England. Why? Well, that's something you have to find out. The first thing you need to is that this certainly isn't a 'feel-good' film. It's dark, nasty and certainly not light-hearted in any way. Its major plus-point is Ray Winstone. He plays the part perfectly, switching from scared bouts of violence, to just plain scared. He's the reason this film is worth watching, as the 'story' is somewhat lacking. I was left wondering why exactly these two were driving across country, as it isn't really explained until about the hour mark. Although, that is the time when the film generally starts to pick up. The first hour - excluding Ray's performance - is pretty hard to sit through. It doesn't really go anywhere and drags by. However, if you can excuse that, it does get better and the last act ties everything up. If you're a fan of Ray then you'll enjoy this. Otherwise, you'll have to be in the mood for a very dark drama to get something out of this.

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