Every actor gives a remarkable performance in this film which has become my new favorite. Even the soundtrack is excellent, combining The Clash, Echo the Bunnymen, along with other pulsing musical giants, it provides a perfect backdrop to the gorgeous storyline. This simple however very rich tapestry of two young girls growing up together throughout the 70's, 80's, until today reminds me why I love movies. And the character of Nat (Oliver Milburn) reminds me why I want to love. I could watch it over and again still never tiring of the struggle between the two main characters Holly and Marina to grow up into independence. This is especially difficult for Holly as she strives to live under her best/worst friend Marina's constant control. She manipulates every situation with no shame in order to keep Holly closely tied to her and out of her older brother's (Nat) arms. It is a truly intense dynamic between these three souls, one that has inspired me to recommend the movie to others, both men and women as it reaches both sexes. Looks can be deceiving because it is no chick flick, but a highly interesting portrayal of human behavior, highlighted by flaws each one of us have and take for granted. So if you want to see a movie that will stay with you always see this one. It's clever, incredibly moving and intelligently sexy. I highly recommend it!!! : )

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I'm a middle-aged white man, not a teen chick, and yet I must confess to having felt that this was a fine bit of work from so many POVs- and an entertaining package for their efforts.
Yes, there were times when it was too clear that the actresses were improvising their lines for a scene- but I could forgive it! There were far more instances where the lines were so spontaneously delivered that their candor felt just right, honesty beyond reproach.
The young women were excellent in their craft and sincerity. The screenplay was very believable, intelligent and did not pander- even if it tried too hard to include too much turmoil. The dialogue was delicious.
The direction was tentative in its lack of assurance (some moments that the cast ought to have been reined in rather than indulged) but mostly, the direction shows solid instinct and craft.
Finally, the cinematography is very fine. The framing and tracking show the viewer a smoothly handsome progress of scene and plot - without any trendy or self-conscious technical digression. Thank you, my friend, for your refusal to drown us in camera-shake!
All in all, I feel this was a fine project lovingly rendered by a sincere and generously talented team. As for their slight lack of self-confidence, it leads me to expect greater pleasure from their next work. This lot will not be undone by complacent ennui!

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This was a very good movie and definitely not just for females in their teens and 20's. I think all females (and even many males) can relate to this movie in one way or another. It's a very realistic movie about LIFE--- friendship, growing up, partying, sex, learning from mistakes, morals, family problems, falling in love, self-destruction, standing up for yourself, being with someone you don't love because it's expected of you, long term friendships and much more. It is definitely emotional at times, but very realistic. I live in the states and get irritated at the movies here being so idealistic--that's why i really enjoy the foreign made movies so much.

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Friendship is a curious thing, and it's a topic which hasn't been explored too recently at the cinema. Me Without You puts this right, following the relationship between Holly (Williams) and Marina (Friel) from the seventies through the present, watching as them grow up and exploring their feelings towards each other and each other's families.
Imagine a British answer to The Ice Storm or American Beauty, and you're about half-way there, as this contains performances of genuine passion and emotion which leads you to engage on a surprisingly deep level with the characters as it delves beneath the surface of friendship. There is a moment about an hour in with Holly where it was impossible not to feel her character's desperation. While mostly drama, there are many moments of subtle humour which are effective without disturbing the overall flow of the piece.
The direction, especially with some inspired lighting in the last half hour is more than adequate, and the soundtrack perfectly evokes the spirit of the era, as do the costumes which have obviously had great care taken over them.
More importantly, though, this is a film which will really make you think, make you question the nature of friendship and your friends - you'll want to recommend this film to them, but you probably won't for fear of losing them afterwards!
A delight, and not at all what you might expect from a British film starring an ex soap actress. The two leads put in fine performances, and the supporting cast more than pull their weight. It's fair to say that I felt some of the nudity and drug use were slightly gratuitous, but this is a criticism that could also be levelled at American Beauty to a certain extent. This isn't quite a five star film, but it's pretty close.

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I loved this film. I cannot fathom why the above reviewer calls it 'maudlin' and the comparison to Antonia and Jane seems way off base, as does the comment that this is somehow like a Mike Leigh film! (makes me think they have never seen a Mike Leigh film). Also the comment on the 'Miranda' character does not inspire confidence since the character's name is Marina!
In any case, this film deftly captures several eras with its complex and lush visual design, reflecting the inner world of Holly who is a creative, romantic soul and the outer surface of Marina who is a chameleon-like, savvy trendsetter. The music is also extremely well-utilized, as are the many pop cultural references that lend authenticity to the changes in chronology without being too obvious.
A fine cast too! Williams and Friel are excellent and their evolution from teenagers to young women to early thirties is convincing and enthralling. I also love Trudy Styler as a pill-popping, slutty- dressing 'mom' and Allan Corduner has a solid turn as Holly's kind, befuddled father. Kyle Maclachlan seems somewhat miscast at times but plays the reckless professor well. I also found Oliver Milburn as Nat to be charming, and though she has a small role the French actress who plays his fiancé is great...I last saw her in My Sex Life and she is also terrific in that.
On its surface (the candybox colors, the fluffy music) this might seem like a Brit chick flick but it's really an exploration of what happens when an obsessive friendship grows beyond its usefulness.

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A real look at women with depth and foibles sustaining a friendship- Why is this so rarely done? The details are succinct and amazing. This is what real people look like and act like- when they're tired, confused, angry, jealous etc., etc. No glossing. By showing the 'bones' of the characters' neuroses the evolution of the people themselves and their friendship becomes complex and satisfying. And,
hey, the period details are fabulous- I was right back there with them wearing tarty, tatty club clothes and listening to Adam Ant with fake pirates. Loved this movie.

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This is one of the best depictions of female adolescence, and the intensity of female 'best friend'ships I've seen. Good attention to detail. Doesn't pull its punches on sex, drugs & rock'n'roll - neither glamourizing nor moralizing. It might take courage for parents to let their teenagers see it, but it's delusional to think kids don't know about these things. Good to see it handled intelligently.

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Summary: A messy, busy, charming little English film about girls muddling through `Me Without You' is a nice little movie (or should I say film?) that's a lot of fun if you'll let it be. Its depiction of a dependent relationship between two young Englishwomen from the Seventies till now is messy and busy. That's fine. If life wasn't messy and busy in the Seventies and Eighties I don't know what it was. Clothes and décor and music are thrown at us to evoke the successive periods in a way that ranges from charming to grating. The focus isn't on that; it's just a way of showing the passage of time, the saga of lives moving on. The early sequences jump a little too fast. When you go from the little girls to the young women you may think they're wholly different people. You may think the metamorphoses of the young women are too rapid. But quite early you start to care about both women, and about Marina's sweet and good looking but tragically unavailable brother Nat. This is a women's picture in the good sense that it knows what makes men attractive to women and why that both matters very much and isn't quite enough. It seems to take Nat and Holly about twenty-five years to get together for keeps. The relationship between Marina (Anna Friel) and Holly (Michelle Williams) makes disfunctionality and exploitation between people seem okay, and that's fine too. Mostly we don't question our intimate relationships. The assumption is that the relationship is symbiotic. Pretty early on it becomes clear that the insecure but fast Marina exploits and abuses Holly, while the slightly mousy but smart Holly sticks around because she's too nice and too needy not to. It takes a few decades for this to end, for Holly to realize that Marina needs her more than she needs Marina.
I think what makes this a good film (I will say film) is that it's informed by the English spirit of muddling through, of not expecting too much, but there's an underlying moral sense. There's some of the same kind of wry honesty that comes at the end of Schlesinger's `Sunday Bloody Sunday.' `Me Without You' doesn't try to save the world or make Teaching Points about people. It takes them as they are. You can see this in the womanizing American prof character played excellently by Kyle McLaughlan. He's a rotter, but bloody hell! He can't help it. He's sleazier than the amiable scoundrel played by Hugh Grant in `About a Boy,' but he has some of that appeal. Marina isn't a bitch. If a person as nice and as smart as Holly loves her, how can we hate her? No one is a caricature. No one is whiney or shrill. Muddling through, or making do: I thought also of the mood of the once-Number One video in England, `Withnail and I': it's always rainy and things are always running out.
There are a lot of scenes and little reversals of fortune and through them all Friel and Williams remain excellent, Friel as Marina changing costumes like some mod master of disguise, while the soft, slightly plain, but actually quite lovely Williams as Holly carries the film. Finally it's all about Holly. It's Holly who has the endurance and who gets the man of her dreams at the end, rewarded for her intelligence and moral superiority like a Jane Austen heroine. Williams does her English accent to perfection and quietly underplays her role. The highly saturated color of the film makes her skin look ravishing: she becomes not just an English girl but an understated English beauty who doesn't need Marina's trendy, tarted up costumes and face to be splendid looking.
What makes the film worthwhile and interesting is how well the two characters are written. A long time after seeing it I was still thinking about the relationship.

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I've always been a huge fan of British films and 'Me Without You' certainly didn't let me down. It doesn't only show vividly the agonies and struggles of growing up from a girl to a woman, it also presents the joys in a way that all can identify with.
I believe most can empathize with Marina, when she tore up the letter Nat wrote to Holly, or when she tries her very best just so that she can have Holly all to herself. Friel forces us to come face to face with the Marina in ourselves.
Williams deserves more credit for her stunning performance in the film. Undoubtedly, her quiet and reserved way of playing Holly has found itself into the hearts of many, especially with her desperate yearning for Nat.
To term this epic a 'chick flick' is certainly doing it and its actors great injustice. I walked away after watching it for the third time saying, 'God, I love this movie.' Kudos to the writer and director!

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***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Sifting through the videostore is such a painful process--trying to figure out which video to pick, hoping that your $3 and 2 hours will be well spent--ME WITHOUT YOU was a pleasant surprise. I rented it not knowing anything about it and was pleased to find that it was one of the best coming-of-age movies I had seen in a long time.
I am a big fan of movies that take place either in one solid work day (like Clerks) or movies, like ME WITHOUT YOU, that take place over several years -- specifically those childhood to adult years.
ME WITHOUT YOU focuses on the story of two white girls growing up in 1980's New Wave/Punk-influenced London suburbs. This film has plenty of subcultural and pop culture references to Punk and New Wave if that's your thing.
Here's the basic synopsis(WARNING, I MAY GIVE AWAY MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW, SO DON'T READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THIS STUFF): Girl 1 and Girl 2 are best friends as kids... Girl 1 is the 'mousey girl' (who in my opinion is actually cuter than the 'pretty girl') turn intellectual and thus our film's protagonist and Girl 2 is the hip skinny wild pretty girl. Girl 1 has a crush on Girl 2's brother--which remains a point of jealousy between the girls. The film moves us from childhood friendship ceremonies to high school angst to college-aged rebellion and eventually marriages and kids. Most of the film takes place in the college years in the 1980's with a punk and new wave soundtrack and backdrop. Girl 2 continually screws over and controls Girl 1, but in the end most of the pieces fall into place. This film is great if you like coming of age films; films set in the 80's; films with punk & new wave references, subcultural moments, and soundtrack; films set in England; & films with cute girls...
This is a good movie for people who like coming-of-age flicks with girls as the main characters.

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Me Without You is about two best friends, Holly and Marina growing up in London in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and of course we see what they're up to in 2001. The movie sees the up and downs in there friendship, love life and family life.
Me Without You is directed by the great Sandra Goldbacher, who's a brilliant director as we see in many of her movies, including this one. Michelle Williams (With a British accent.) and Anna Friel (Ex soap star.) both star here and they both good performances as does most of the rest of the cast here.
Me Without You is a great movie. I'm not usually into British films, but this one is good, even if it is different to what I'd expected. I really liked all the Jewish scenes in the movie too, especially with Holly being Jewish, as I'm Jewish too. All in all there's a good movie here. See it!

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I rented this movie originally for a week long rental. In that week, I watched it 5 times!!! A rarity! And by the time I had to return it to the videostore I had already bought my own copy.
To say the least, I completely love this movie! It's just so.... realistic! Almost embarrassingly so. Girls' friendships are not always based on similar interests or even a complete like of each other. I think this movie completely captures that.
The relationship between Holly and Nat is probably the biggest reason I love this film. It's understated, beautiful and heartbreaking. I think I cried about 3/4 of this movie the first time I saw it.
Call it a chick flick if you want, but categorize it at the top of that genre, if you do.
Superb acting and directing.

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If Dawson's Creek had to exist, let it be for the emergence of Michelle Williams. She was excellent in Dick and Me Without You. Besides the sappy, soap opera dramatizations, I enjoyed this film and I must say Oliver Milburn is a hottie.

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This was a good movie that was well acted by both leads. You want to despise Friel's character but know the character is a product of her environment. You root for Williams' character even if you can't figure out why she puts up with so much. I liked the love story between Williams and Milburn's character. I see shades of Rene Zellweger in Michelle Williams.

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The movie is a simple nostagic tale done half a million times before but the acting is so good that it will turn the movie around. Dawsons creek Michelle Williams (the best actress on that show) really does shine here and she is the better out of the two actresses. If you get a chance go see it it is suprisingly very very good

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I chanced upon the movie while casually flicking and was absorbed immediately with the quiet, understated acting of Michelle Williams. I found her exquisite and emotionally charged performance but not in a melodramatic ways. And her beautiful, soulful eyes, are hard to ignore. Yes, it sounds like cliché. Yes, it's been told over and over again. Angst-ridden teenagers with tons of issues. But this is one told differently. So if you want a slight emotional roller coaster ride and appreciate good acting. This is worth your while. I guess one wonders why didn't Nat and Molly just got together in the beginning, but I guess that's one surprise element that keeps audience (I know it kept me!) in suspense. There were also very good both poignant and explosive scenes. The highlight I agree was when Molly told Marina why she had to leave. The writer and director has a bright future. So do the 3 main casts. I'm going to see Station Agent already (MW).

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everyone should see this film, it's far better than many of the big budget action movies which we so frequently see at the cinema. Like many of the films i love (the godfather, almost famous) it spans over more than one decade and perfectly depicts the ups and downs of friend ships. it is perfectly cast, michelle williams shines as the less out going of the two friends as does anna friel as her best friend. there is no particular storyline, different issues arise during each of the featured years and the ending is amazing-i really cant fault this film in anyway, and best of all IT'S A BRITFLICK!

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This film was great, very watchable, great acting, interesting twists and turns, also very emotive. I identified with Holly and was drawn in.
However, what could have been an amazing film was stopped by three fairly substantial factors. Firstly despite astouding performances from Williams and Friel the two gorgeous actress' simply could not pull off the transcendence of time so pivitol in the script. The last two ages were simply unbelievable, especially the youthful Williams who remained unchanged from 1982 to 2001 apparently. Both actresses were really fantastic and their chemistry was electrifying, Williams, as Holly, was a well rounded performance and although Friel as Marina did not have the same scenes to work from she also shone. The slight flaw was Williams' accent which, whilst often excellent, waivered when she dramatically stated script. But that might just be my suburbian London upbringing which could really hear the difference between the two girls accents. Secondly, whilst i believed totally in the relationship between Holly and Marina, the addition of Nat brought much confusion. Why he would marry Isabella is simply uncomprehensive, even taking into account his need for stability in his life, the relatively small barriers between him and Holly were left there with no attempt to even really try to be with his true love. This was also unhelped by the entirely over lengthy time interludes. Lastly the ending was a complete anti climax, there seemed to be no resolution to the most important relationship, Holly and Marina. Whilst we could see the Ho9lly and Nat were together, it wasn't the important aspect of the film, as Holly letting herself be with Nat was an important element in her friendship with Marina.
Sorry to write such an essay but i loved this film and was so disappointed with the ending- it was a very good film and i advise anyone to see it, but it also had the potential to be a fantastic film.

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The story is about these two young women, who have been 'friends' all of their lives. There were boys, jealousy, love and hate...and still it's all about these two girls - Holly and Marina. Just the truth without any hyperbolas and unnecessary sweetness. This movie was so close to me that all of the time I watched it I had goose bumps. The central idea of this movie has been following me since I was 12...It's unbelievable how precisely director has described my (as well as any other human being's) thoughts, emotions...There are these people in our lives that just won't ever go. It's not love and it's not friendship either and it's not that we really want them to leave (?)...it is some kind of bond between people...as the Marina says 'There's no me without you'. Watching this movie I realized how weird is this fact - you can hate, despise one people so much....and still there is something that holds you together...and I guess there is no point to resist, otherwise there will be no you :) - and that's frightful isn't it?

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This is a film that I went to see for two reasons: the depiction of nostalgia and the state of British cinema- I thought it depicted the former brilliantly but confirmed the problem with British films that afflict our times. 'Me Without You- like most British films ('A Room for Romeo Brass', 'Bend it Like Beckham') would be more suited to TV- a BBC or Channel 4 film in the mode of 'Play for Today'- one-offs that aren't soap operas. Though I do admire the scope this film aims for- which should have been on a scale of TV-show 'Our Friends in the North'- i.e. hours of TV.
The film has a pretty great soundtrack- Cabaret Voltaire, The Normal, Only Ones, Scritti Politti and good performances from Anna Friel and Kyle Maclachlan. The best thing here is the acting of Michelle Williams- as with Katie Holmes she doesn't seem to be bothered by on-screen nudity. This is a European approach typified by actresses like Monica Belluci, Emanuelle Beart and Romane Bohringer- it's the character who is naked. And, let's face it- when you're in bed with someone you usually are naked! The punk bit was OK- not far from the book 'The Rachel Papers'- the other side of life from suburbia; the Brighton Uni bit was even better (though I felt the unrequited/requited love throughout was a bit hokey!). There is a terrible postmodern line spoken by Williams character to Maclachlan's on Tarkovsky- in 1982 sher states 'My favourite is 'Nostalgia' '- released in 1983: the postmodern loop of nostalgia...I do think this film says a lot about friendship and the passage of time- for that reason alone it will find a receptive audience in the future (I had some 'Speak,Memory' moments...)The end of the film is quite unsatisfactory- Friel's character being quite irritating and the will they/won't they? question answered in a rather boring manner. The final scene is rubbish- daughters who we have never seen before are meant to reference the circular nature of 'growing up' as typified by the opening scenes of Friel/Williams as young girls playing in the garden?
I think this film captures that English suburban thing well- more 'Lawn Dogs' or 'Secrets & Lies' than 'American Beauty'- and I don't think it is close to 'Mina Tannenbaum'. It's much better than the recent Elton John produced film with Helena Bonham Carter and Mel Smiths excerable offerring with Minnie Driver. This film will work on video much better- as it's closer to TV than the language of cinema. Still it is very touching, does offer allusions to Derrida,Dostoyevsky & 'The Sweetest Girl' and it does linger in the memory long after seeing it. Despite its flaws, it's much closer to where British film should be than dross like 'Snatch' and a nice feminine companion to '24 Hour Party People'. At the end of the day though, this theme has been done much better in films like 'Beautiful Girls',I Vitteloni', 'Jules et Jim'& 'Summer with Monika'- which if you like this, I urge you to see.

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One of the few films that takes a look at women's friendships without descending into cliche or mawkishness. A little on the dark side, but great performances all around. Michelle Williams (from Dawson's Creek) not only pulls off the accent, but brings her character completely to life. The ending was a little flat, but otherwise, a pretty good film.

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'Me Without You' is an account of over twenty years of a tempestuous friendship between two middle class women; reminiscent of Mike Leigh's 'Career Girls' in structure, although the role of sexual jealousy and manipulation in their relationship reminds one more of elements of 'American Beauty'. As in that film, the truthfulness of the representation is somewhat compromised by the casting of a very attractive actress (here the American Michelle Williams, who's nice to look at though her accent sometimes slips) as the supposedly plain friend; but the period references are not overplayed, the atmosphere convinces throughout, and first flowering of teenage sexuality is deftly and enjoyable portrayed. Williams and co-star Anna Friel enjoy a natural camaraderie as teenagers then students, but possibly the film should have been made as a shorter drama: there's a natural plot-end about two-thirds of the way through, and the final portion of the story feels more constructed, as if designed to make a full length feature from a shorter tale. I still enjoyed it, if only as a taste of a youth I never quite had myself.

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I've seen the movie and I liked it, it leaves a very good impression. And it's so not like the usual baby of Hollywood. Michelle Williams is great, really.

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Me Without You is a charming movie with considerable depth. It explores the pathology of long-term friendships, when people grow apart, and one of the friends is forced to become the giver, peacemaker, bearer of burdens caused by conflict and divergent ideals.
Friel and Williams are compelling as two friends who, even as children, had little in common. As they become adults their differences turn into jealously, suspicion, and inevitable confrontation. Their lives completely entwined by the time they realize that their differences are often unbearable irritants, the two eventually reach a kind of strained truce.
The story is a distinctly female one; men are far less likely to have such long-term or intimate friendships, and not at all likely to remain friends with someone after betrayals and unrestrained confrontation. However, this should not stop men from viewing the film. It is full of insight about women, relationships, and family dynamics. And if none of that interests you, it offers some great depictions of the 1970's and 80's (the club scenes and wardrobe from the university years, are nice contrasts to American depictions of the New Wave era).

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The performances of Williams and Friel were engaging enough to overcome even the most worn-out plot; i.e., friends growing up and experiencing change without excepting the others changing. Not to take away from some unusually gritty realism and a smart script and score. All the several supporting players are given just enough background and lines when it'd been easy to drop a few such people to superficial status.
Still, MW/oY cannot avoid the need to employ the implausibility of friends staying so attached and frequent and annual meetings of all involved. Such can be overlooked because Holly and Mariana are so intriguing.
Guys, this may qualify as a chick flick. But if a guy must suffer through just one chick flick, I recommend this one.

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Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress, singer, and television producer. Tisdale's first major role started in 2005 with Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Maddie Fitzpatrick and she next played Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical film series. Her most international succesful single so far is He Said She Said, she also made music history by becoming the first female artist ever to debut with two singles simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 with What I've Been Looking For and Bop To The Top. On 2006 after the first Emmy-wi… read more

Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress, singer, and television producer. Tisdale's first major role started in 2005 with Disney's The Suite Life of Zac… read more

Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress, singer, and television producer. Tisdale's first major role started in 2005 with Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Maddie Fitzpatrick and she nex… read more