It's not surprising to see that as people age, they rate this film increasingly positively. It's a journey of reflection and remembrances - as the actors characters takes us into their memories of their relationship of their deceased, lifelong pal and as they carry out their "last orders" we are taken into a series of memories. It's impossible to view this film and not reflect on ones own important friends and significant memories. And, there are other themes ... the particular loss that parents feel at the untimely demise of one of their children, the difficulties of an adopted child to find his place in the family. This film is carried off with a realism and warmth that will bring tears. The Cockney accents are difficult -- flow with the film and you'll understand most of it anyway. The acting is superb. This should be the type of film that gets the Academy Award.