Films:TV:Stuart A LIfe Backwards

Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007) BBCTV

Cast: Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch

I am bowled over by Tom Hardy. Okay, so I have an entirely unparallelled crush on him, but every time I watch him on screen, I am completely convinced that he is one of Britain's greatest living actors.

When Stuart first aired on the BBC, I was a third year English student at Southampton, no TV, no concept of life in the real world. I missed it and I'm sorry. Today, 3 years later, I am soon to be a third year teacher, expensive TV subscription and all too much understanding of events in the real world. This is why Stuart has astounded, shocked, disturbed and moved me. This film has caused me to laugh, look away in horror and weep...and weep. And I can confidently say that it is largely due to the warmth and tenderness with which Hardy portrays Stuart Shorter, an alcoholic, heroin addict and violent offender.

The film - based on real events recorded in the book by Alexander Masters - follows the unlikely friendship of Cambridge boy, Alexander Masters and the homeless and virtually incomprehensible Stuart Shorter. United by Shorter's unique view of 'the system' in the light of the arrest of two homeless shelter workers, the two men go on the campaign trail and much more besides. They drink countless bottles of wine ("It all smells like sick") and cans of beer between them, and Stuart spews out endless, surprisingly philosophical observations about the cruelty and beauty of life.

Hardy is inexplicably attractive as his bumbling, shaky, violent and unpredicatble character. At one moment, he is screaming in anger at 'the man' and the next marvelling in the wonder of nature. He gives all of himself. It is refreshing. Cumberbatch, too, is first rate as the gawky Cambridge boy, suddenly forced to wake up and face head-on the demons that Stuart suffers with. He decides to write a story about his friend. Stuart insists it is not boring. "Why don't you write it backwards like one of those Tom Clancy novels, they're good. Give those nine-to-fives something to think about." And that is exactly what they will get. I cried for Stuart because he was a kind, thoughtful, giving person shut inside a mind driven mad by abuse, alcohol and pain.

I can't review the cinematography or soundtrack for this film (although the Badly Drawn Boy song at the end inuced a second torrent of tears!) because they were both outshone by the acting performances. All I will say is that this film will upset you and shake you through to the core. You know when you are so confused and disturbed that your chest aches and your mind boggles? That is what you will get. No, it is not an easy film to view. No, you will not frown and weep the whole way through. If I could have on loop a recording of the many ways Hardy's Stuart slurs the name 'Alexander' throughout the film, I would play it 24 hours a day. Shorter was fortunate to find a friend in Masters, and a friend who would write his story. There are so many others like him who will live this way, and eventually die and never experience love, friendship or forgiveness. And that's what makes me sad.

My rating ***** 5/5 stars

Recommendation: It is violent and tragic. If you don't like gritty or shocking then don't watch. But you will be missing out on an amazing performance from two fantastic British actors.