Laura Linney & Rhys Ifans Shine in 'Onwards and Sideways,' a Parkinson's Love Story

Director John Madden put together a dramedy that doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. Onwards and Sideways centers on two people navigating life with Parkinson's disease—and yeah, it's based on something real. Screenwriter Paul Mayhew-Archer drew from his own experience to build this one, which already signals the filmmakers weren't trying to sugarcoat anything.

Linney and Ifans carry the weight here. Both are strong actors who know how to find the human moments in scripts, and the presence of Rory Kinnear and Monica Dolan rounds out a solid ensemble cast. The film leans into what happens when two people recognize themselves in each other's struggle—it's about connection, humor, and resilience.

This isn't your typical feel-good movie, and it's not built to wreck you either. It's a film that respects its audience enough to tell a story grounded in real life, with performances that match that energy. British cinema keeps showing up with these smaller, character-driven projects that major studios sleep on—and that's not a bad thing.

Read the full story at The Hollywood Reporter → https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/onwards-and-sideways-review-laura-linney-rhys-ifans-1236702940/