A comedy-drama movie that boasts Lesley Manville and James Norton in its supporting cast is set to leave Netflix in the coming days — so consider this your final warning to fall for its charms. The London-set Hampstead, starring the late icon Diane Keaton alongside Brendan Gleeson as the romantic leads, was first released in the UK back in 2017.
Based on real life events, it shows Keaton’s Emily striking up an unlikely bond with Gleeson’s Donald, despite the two leading very different lives. She’s based in an expensive apartment, while he’s in a makeshift cabin on land that’s being targeted by real estate developers.
Norton plays Emily’s son, while Manville can be seen as her self-serving neighbour.
The film was met with a muted reception from critics upon its original release and has a 43% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes — but there’s plenty to love about it. The Wrap praised a “terrific” Keaton, and The Standard called her a “refreshing romantic lead”.
Viewers have given it a respectable 6.1 score on IMDb, and Norton clearly looks back on it fondly.
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Asked about his “most memorable place to shoot”, he said in a 2020 interview with Time Out: “In Hampstead, I had a scene in a sushi bar with Diane Keaton. I got to spend hours asking her everything you’d ever want to ask her about Woody Allen and The Godfather.”
Now, it’s one of several movies being removed from Netflix on Saturday, 1 November.
That means your final chance to watch it will be this Friday, 31 October — a treat for anyone looking for the polar opposite of spooky Halloween viewing.
Also departing on 1 November are a slew of films, such as the original 2004 version of Mean Girls, 2013’s Now You See Me, and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. 2015 follow-up Sponge Out Of Water is also set to leave.
The critically-lauded Parasite, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, won’t be far behind: it’s slated to leave the streamer on Sunday, 2 November.
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Looking ahead, 2009 comedy 17 Again starring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry will be leaving Netflix on 5 November, while The Miracle Club (which stars a host of favorites including Laura Linney, Kathy Bates and the late Maggie Smith) leaves on 11 November.
Aside from Hampstead, fans of Lesley Manville can see her with Aidan Turner in the “seductive” Les Liaisons Dangereuses at London’s National Theatre next year.
Norton, meanwhile, has joined the star-studded Beatles biopics as Brian Epstein, the band’s long-term manager.
