Allelujah (Judi Dench) (REVIEW) | Projector | Worst twist ending of 2023? 

Clearly if Dr. Valentine had turned to the camera and said "I know writers who use subtext and they're all cowards", it would have been too on-the-nose.

I admit, I was working at a theater when they broadcast the NTLive production of the play and... yeah, that awful tonal shift was just as bad in the play. We had a set of 'regulars' who came to all the live broadcasts, and they left every bit as infuriated as you sound in this review. I absolutely loathed the play, and being an NTLive apologist it took quite a bit to 'break' me on those shows. So I can say I had no desire to see a film version, but in truth I was absolutely fascinated in your review. I expected to watch a few minutes to confirm my concerns, and got so caught up in things I ended up watching straight through! So thanks for this; it's absolutely something more than the film sounds like it has to offer (and for what it's worth, it sounds like they did leave out certain bits, particularly about the character of Valentine, but it still sounds like a generally faithful adaptation of this terrible, mean-spirited mire of a play... and yes, even the National advertised it as a comedy!)

This is one of those elements that astounds you in just how many hands & eyes it had to pass through from conception to release & how many people had to either sign off under the naïve assumption they’ve made critically important & sympathetic art or people who noticed how dreadfully the film faceplants yet say nothing simply because of where they are in the corporate/production ladder.

That twist floored me. What's next, Shipman: The Musical? Just awful, misguided and wrong on every level. Great video Mathew, keep up your amazing work.

Oh, man...I wondered what about a seemingly upbeat Judi Dench movie could possibly make you look that way in the thumbnail, and now I know. That is just terrible.

The poster/marketing for this gives the impression that it's along the lines of Pride or Philomena, and then the twist is like if Pride ended with "and then Sian blew up an orphanage."

the ending... jesus

I know this is based of a stage play but this ending is so wrongheaded between the way this movie was advertised and what we've all been through with the pandemic how did no one say this is a bad idea also what is with this and the good nurse being out so close together?

That ending sounds horrible. What were they thinking?

When you mentioned the plot twist about Saunders' character...my mouth dropped irl. How terrible!!!

Your anger at this movie feels entirely justified. Using Covid and lecturing the audience in the epilogue feels really tacked on and just adds to the nasty taste the tone deaf 'twist' leaves in the mouth [as well as the false advertising]. Hopefully this was cathartic for you-this was an excellent video.

My best bet is that the original stage play was supposed to be a black comedy but the film is trying to play the source material as a Hallmark movie/serious drama.

I didn't think false advertising could sink any lower than that Playmobil movie or Man of the Year... but a movie about celebrating hospitality workers certainly did just that with its advertising...

I honestly don't think I've gotten so angry at a review than I did here. I watched the trailer after seeing the title of your video so at least I had some idea of what you were talking about. As someone who has dealt with the nursing home system here in the US, I went through my mind as to what could possibly be the twist ending. I chuckled as you described your early viewing experience with those in the industry but then my jaw dropped at how the accuracy was the least of the issue. I sure hope the cast got duped by a different script because it makes me think very little of anyone who signed onto this otherwise.

I feel sorry for Mathew…his frustration and disgust was palpable…but this review was hilarious!!

When you said what the twist was I said 'what the fuck?!' out loud.

I'm pretty sure I saw the actors talk about this movie on the Graham Norton show, and they described it as a feelgood film, maybe even too feelgood, no conflict just fluffy fun. I guess they wanted to prank audiences?

Such a weird turn for a movie I know it’s not quite like this but it’s like if there was a movie about a guy who was running a KFC and was also a clown and also a contracting business and it was all inspirational and shit and then the last 10 minutes it turned out it was about John Wayne Gacy the whole time

I don't know what i was expecting you to spoil, but I was not expecting that....

I don't know... How i expected this movie to end... But that ain't it. Is this the most tone deaf ending to a movie ever?

Guess I won't be seeing this one! I'm really curious about how the play handled that twist ending, and if it was received well there. By the way, I wanted to say that I'm really glad you're sponsored by Movie Palette. I'd never heard of them until your videos, and I was trying to figure out a good Christmas gift for my mom several months ago, so I got one of her favorite movie (Jojo Rabbit) and she loved it! The 15% off certainly helped too. =) So you've gotten at least one customer out of your sponsorship!

Wow...I was going through a couple of scenarios in my head watching this review trying to guess what the "worst twist ending" might be (like maybe the doctor guy was a literal angel or something) but I never would have even come close to THAT. I don't think I've seen you this mad and disgusted about a movie's ending since your Seven Pounds review, and now both are on my 'films to stay away from' list.

I agree that this looked like it should be on TV, from the trailers I couldn't understand why it was getting a cinema release. It did seem Call The Midwife: The Movie All reasons I would avoid it. But having now found out from your review what a Trainwreck it is, I'm genuinely fascinated to watch how wrong-headed and wrong-handed it sounds.

*Me:* "So what's the twist, do all the patients die at the end or something?" *The movie:* "Eh, kinda..."

You say Britain has an unrealistic sense of nostalgia for itself?! Whaaaaa?! Seriously though, I can absolutely believe that a member of a conservative political party would say something staggeringly out of touch.

Is this a worse twist than Red Lights? (Having seen Red Lights, but not this... I sort of doubt it. Maybe this one is on the same level as The Life of David Gale.)

Hi there Film Brain, what possessed the filmmakers to come up with the WTF ending?! Also, in your livestream for this film, you replied to my question that you weren’t too big on two rom coms, what were their names and why didn’t you like them?

Thanks I appreciate the analysis!

(Spoiler) So was it intentional giving one of the characters a similar MO to a killer in Dead by Daylight? Either way, that’s not really a comparison you want. Jesus.

Thanks

Ill be very surprised if this is not on your worst of the year. I can't believe so many Great British actors chose to be in this film.

You said “actually” A LOT in this one. 😋

I wonder if this film looked different on paper with that ending.

I was liking this film right up to the end I hated it how this was no way the honor the NHS and for all that I hate this film and i never want to see it again.

Jesus the ending sounds so horrible.

that twist is wild for sure 😮

FILM BRAINNN!!!… we meet again…

that's hilarious.

It was the middle of a triple bill with Champions and John Wick Chapter 4 for me and I didn’t like it. Not as bad as Empire Of Light but just baffling.

I work in the NHS (nothing exciting im a ward clerk) but this actually sounds like it perfectly captures how the elderly view the NHS. The nurses who look after you and three other people 12 hours a day, wiping your backside and keeping your medicines right are all secretly evil jaded murderers because they dont always crack a smile after being run ragged all day. Meanwhile those nice handsome young doctors who do a 9-5 and always pat you on the head when they see you once a week are paragons of selfless virtue. The NHS gettting annihilated by the conservatives isnt because the elderly demographic overwhelmingly vote for them when they promise to do exactly that, its because they're getting bad advice from naughty gentrified Londoners (who might even be *GASP* Gay!). The covid arrived, and now NHS workers are soldiers, who get paid in thank you and salutes then kicked to the curb when they step out of line.

Some more fake out of place twists. In the history boys, the lollipop lady tampered with hector’s bike. In the bank job, the bank robbers star in a Vogel porn film to pay the debt. Feel free to reply with some of your own.

Some movies require a negative review. Some require...a beatdown.