Andrew Scott Oscar buzz grows after rave review from influential movie critic

Patrick McCarry

The movie has been described as a movie powerful enough to ‘stay with you forever’.

All Of Us Strangers has been on a critical surge ever since it was released, earlier this year. Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal have both gleaned Golden Globes nominations for their roles in the film, and Oscars buzz is growing.

Scott could yet find himself facing off against the likes of Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) and Barry Keoghan (Saltburn), as well as Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon) if his film keeps on its’ currently, glowing trajectory. The latest review, from influential L.A Times critic Justin Chung, describes All Of Us Strangers as ‘the year’s best movie’.

While we have reported on the positive takes from critics, to the Andrew Haigh piece, the focus on Andrew Scott here is striking, and well deserved. Chung writes:

‘Until now, Scott has been a largely diffident presence in the movies, having distinguished himself most prominently as a masterly TV foil: the Moriarty to Benedict Cumberbatch’s “Sherlock,” the “hot priest” to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag.” That he’s rarely stepped into a feature role this emotionally and psychologically layered explains, at least partly, why his work feels so quietly revelatory.’

Claire Foy, Andrew Scott and Andrew Haigh. (Credit: Getty)

Andrew Scott returns to childhood home in movie

All Of Us Strangers’ official synopsis is as follows: “It tells the story of a screenwriter (Andrew Scott) who, after an encounter with his neighbour (Paul Mescal), is pulled back to his childhood home where he discovers that his long-dead parents (Jamie Bell & Claire Foy) are living and look the same age as the day they died, when the writer was just 11 years old.”

Earlier this year, Rory Cashin ran a piece on the early movie buzz after it was screened at the Telluride Film Festival. He wrote:

‘This year’s All Of Us Strangers could be the new Aftersun; a powerful, knock-you-for-six, emotional drama that picks up so much momentum from its festival screenings that it ends up becoming an Oscar frontrunner.

‘If you don’t know Haigh’s previous works, they are absolutely worth checking out; Weekend is available to rent on Google Play and Rakuten TV, while 45 Years is available to stream on Netflix. But be warned, they’ll both leave an emotional wreck, and will likely get you in the mindset for what to expect from his new movie.’

Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal are going to break our hearts in All Of Us Strangers.

All Of Us Strangers garnered host of great reviews

Following the surprise screening at the Telluride Film Festival, the immediate response from critics was staggering. Here were some of the reviews that came out, at the time:

The Guardian – “The film is an enormously satisfying and affecting experience. 5 stars.”

IndieWire – “The film’s hushed modesty allows Haigh to create an ethereal atmosphere so cold and sterile that Adam and Harry might as well be the last two men on Earth; the fire between them is kindled with such care that it seems like the entire world might go dark if it went out. That heightened focus draws our eye to every muscle of Andrew Scott’s crushingly gentle smile, as we search for a lifetime of unspoken feeling in each little twitch of his lips.”

Deadline – “All of Us Strangers asks a lot of questions, but the answers are not supplied easily. It is a challenging work as much of Haigh’s character-driven filmography including Weekend and 45 Years often is, but one that offers rich rewards if you sign on to it at all. It isn’t a mass-audience picture but one that adventurous audiences will accept with open arms.”

The Hollywood Reporter – “While it unfolds in a hazy dream state rooted in Adam’s loneliness and the emotional suspension that has blocked him from moving forward, it’s by no means a downer. It’s a thing of beauty, heartfelt and unforgettable.”

Variety – “The entire journey is not based in logic so much as a kind of emotional intuition, and as such, no two viewers will experience it the same way. What strikes some as manipulative will crack open others, as the film offers a kind of connection that’s all too rare, and maybe even impossible.”

The US release date for All OfUs Strangers is 22 December, with Ireland getting big screen release date on January 26th, 2024.

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