This film floored me.
The reverse chronology, Stuart's own idea, wasn't just clever; it mirrored Alexander Masters' (and my) journey of understanding him, peeling back layers from troubled adult to his childhood.
Tom Hardy became Stuart. He nailed the humor, rage, and vulnerability, even the physical challenges of muscular dystrophy, without letting them define him. Benedict Cumberbatch, as Alexander, was the perfect foil. Their unlikely friendship felt real, the film's emotional core.
What impressed me most was the film's honesty. No sanitizing Stuart, no easy answers. He was complex – charming, frightening, wise, self-destructive. The documentary style, even the animations of Stuart's memories, felt genuine.
Each revealed piece of Stuart's past – trauma, institutions, violence – added context, never excuses. The film showed how complicated life is. It handled tough topics (addiction, abuse, homelessness) without exploitation, finding humor in Stuart's personality, not at his expense. The modest budget worked; it felt real.
The film challenges you.
It forces you to confront your biases about homelessness and mental illness, showing how easily people fall through the cracks. The evolving relationship between Stuart and Alexander, with all its awkwardness, felt profoundly authentic.
It made me think about how we tell stories.
Alexander's struggle to write Stuart's book mirrored my own attempt to understand someone so different. True understanding, the film suggests, means embracing the messy complexity of human experience.
The ending is devastating, but true.
No forced happy ending, just the reality of a life that defied labels. It stays with you, making you think about how we treat the vulnerable and the stories behind every face we pass. The subtle cinematography and understated score perfectly supported the story.
While the non-linear structure might challenge some, it perfectly mirrors how we learn about people. All in all, "Stuart: A Life Backwards" is a powerful, thought-provoking look at difficult issues, handled with sensitivity and anchored by phenomenal acting. A must-watch.