Now Is Good is a movie certain to be beloved by those of us who crave the occasional rainy day tearjerker. Based on the Jenny Downham's bestselling YA weepy Before I Die, the British drama is directed by Ol Parker (Imagine Me And You and stars Dakota Fanning. Sporting a chic English accent and a darling pixie cut, Fanning plays Tessa, a 17-year-old girl with terminal leukemia. However, when Tessa's doctor delivers a diagnosis that is tantamount to a death sentence, the beautiful and vibrant heroine doesn't fall to pieces, but instead decides to make the best of what time she has left. The rhetorical question about what you would do if you knew how much time you had left becomes a vivid reality, and she embraces it with a remarkable bravery. At the top of her bucket list are some typical juvenile revolts and a charming romance with a gorgeous boy, played by War Horse's Jeremy Irvine.
A U.S. release date has not yet been set for Now Is Good, but you can get a look now thanks to this trailer, courtesy of Yahoo:
Between the cancer, Fanning's haircut and twee fashion sense, there's some obvious parallels to Gus Van Sant's tragic tale of young love, Restless. Still, Now Is Good seems promising, perhaps because the focus is on the cancer-stricken girl, not the boy who mourns her prematurely. This feature looks to be a spirited yet poignant coming-of-age drama that tackles teen rebellion and sexual awakening with a tender but acute approach. Add to this a setup ripe with heartbreaking elements—lovely dying girl, an ill-fated romance, helpless parents—and this looks to be a solid tearjerker bolstered by a great cast that also includes Kaya Scodelario (Skins), Olivia Williams (Hanna), and Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum). Simply put, this trailer makes Now is Good look pretty great.
