This drama based on the true story of a man who lost limbs and part of his face after contracting septicaemia has good performances, but the story may be better served with a documentary
If ever a film was a tough watch, it is this: based on the true story of Tom Ray, a man from Rutland in the East Midlands who in 1999 had to have his arms and legs amputated and part of his face removed after contracting a rare form of septicaemia. He and his wife Nicola lived through the ordeal with great courage. One comes away from the film with real respect for the raw honesty of the performances: Joanne Froggatt is Nicola and Tom Riley is Ray.
However, there were moments when I thought the subject might be better served with a documentary. The direction and dialogue are frankly a bit flat, occasionally hitting some unsubtle...
If ever a film was a tough watch, it is this: based on the true story of Tom Ray, a man from Rutland in the East Midlands who in 1999 had to have his arms and legs amputated and part of his face removed after contracting a rare form of septicaemia. He and his wife Nicola lived through the ordeal with great courage. One comes away from the film with real respect for the raw honesty of the performances: Joanne Froggatt is Nicola and Tom Riley is Ray.
However, there were moments when I thought the subject might be better served with a documentary. The direction and dialogue are frankly a bit flat, occasionally hitting some unsubtle...
- 10/27/2016
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Tom Riley and Joanne Froggatt star in a strong new British independent film. Here's our review of Starfish...
Tom Ray (Tom Riley) has everything a man could seemingly want, a beautiful wife, a doting daughter and a second baby imminently due; however where most love stories end Starfish begins. Children’s author Tom routinely spends his days at home caring for his enraptured first born Grace (Ellie Copping), filling her head with wondrous tales about the magical properties of Starfish and how they can adeptly regenerate any lost limb. Together with breadwinning wife Nicola (Joanne Froggatt) this cosy and devoted trio blissful embody the idyllic family dream.
After a violent bout of crippling stomach pains (which are hastily attributed to a couple of expired sausages), Tom is frantically rushed to A&E where doctors belatedly diagnosis him with sepsis, an organ failure blood poisoning which kills 44,000 people each year. The...
Tom Ray (Tom Riley) has everything a man could seemingly want, a beautiful wife, a doting daughter and a second baby imminently due; however where most love stories end Starfish begins. Children’s author Tom routinely spends his days at home caring for his enraptured first born Grace (Ellie Copping), filling her head with wondrous tales about the magical properties of Starfish and how they can adeptly regenerate any lost limb. Together with breadwinning wife Nicola (Joanne Froggatt) this cosy and devoted trio blissful embody the idyllic family dream.
After a violent bout of crippling stomach pains (which are hastily attributed to a couple of expired sausages), Tom is frantically rushed to A&E where doctors belatedly diagnosis him with sepsis, an organ failure blood poisoning which kills 44,000 people each year. The...
- 10/27/2016
- Den of Geek
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