45 Years is the critically acclaimed drama starring Charlotte Rampling, but unless you’re old or a movie critic or an old movie critic, you’ll probably have the same reaction I did: “That’s it?”

45 Years is a well written, superbly acted drama about a woman who, after discovering that her husband loved another woman before they met (and that they may have gotten married had she not fallen into a crevasse—oops!), begins to question her 45-year-old marriage.

Rampling is terrific in the lead, bringing incredible nuance to a role that requires much nuance. Her character is complex and Rampling takes on the challenge, often exhibiting the varied emotions with subtle expressions rather than dialogue, a feat not every character can pull off. Tom Courtenay also does a wonderful job, but 45 Years is very much the Charlotte Rampling show.

The movie is engaging and interesting, an exploration of its protagonist’s emotional journey. Writer/director Andrew Haigh has assembled a fine picture that does exactly what he intended to do.

And yet, perhaps to no fault of the film itself, I have to ask… That’s it? The movie is a victim of its own buzz, a film that was hyped to be an extraordinary drama with extraordinary performances. In the end, though, the movie is small with small stakes, and as good as it is, it isn’t that enthralling or amazing or beautiful or powerful. It’s well written and superbly acted, but that’s it.

Review by Erik Samdahl.