& Sons (2026) Dir. Pablo Trapero

This adaptation of David Gilbert’s novel marks the first English-language film from Argentine director Pablo Trapero, working from a script by Sarah Polley. It has a starry cast, including Bill Nighy, George MacKay, Imelda Staunton and Johnny Flynn, all of whom put in good performances, and the yet the film feels increasingly empty.

Nighy plays Andrew Dyer, a reclusive, hypochondriac writer who is estranged from all his family apart from his illegitimate son, Andy (Noah Jupe). As his alcoholism becomes worse, along with his delusions about his fast-approaching death, he invites his elder children, Jamie (MacKay) and Richard (Flynn), to reveal a long-hidden secret.

The opening half teases a lot of interest, and Nighy is clearly having fun as the stumbling, sardonic writer, but once the secret is revealed things start to fall apart. There is a wonderful confrontation between Nighy and Staunton (playing his ex-wife Isabel Platt) but this is not enough to anchor the film, which quickly becomes a series of confrontations with little holding them together.

MacKay is completely sidelined, to the point where you learn almost nothing about the character during the runtime, and while Flynn does get a chance to monologue towards the end of the film, it is not enough to pull the audience back in.

Part of this is the script. While Polley is an excellent writer, she appears to have struggled to fill the gaps between the big reveals and confrontations. Nighy stumbling about, berating the other characters, and swearing can only provide so much entertainment and none of the others have enough meat on the bones to carry the slower moments.

Praise should be heaped onto Jupe, who does an excellent job with what is an increasingly important (and difficult) character, but even he is lumbered with bad decisions and clunky dialogue at times.

Perhaps this is why the film has seemingly slipped under the radar. It’s big-name cast, lauded source material and strong writer and director team, should have garnered some interest, instead it is a few high points struggling to push through the mud.

★★

2 / 5

Matthew Tilt

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& Sons is coming to DVD, Blu-ray, and all major digital platforms (including iTunes, Amazon, Sky, Google and Virgin) on 5 October from Icon Film Distribution