A Long Way Down

A Long Way Down (originally titled Up & Down) is a 2014 black comedy film directed by Pascal Chaumeil, loosely based on author Nick Hornby's 2005 novel, A Long Way Down. It stars Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, and Aaron Paul as four strangers who meet on the roof of a London building on New Year's Eve, each with the intent of dying by suicide. Their plans for death in solitude are ruined when they meet as they decide to come down from the roof alive, however temporary that may be. The film received mostly negative reviews, with criticism of the source material and the film's cast. Plot Martin Sharp (Pierce Brosnan) is contemplating suicide on New Year's Eve on the roof of the Toppers Building, high above London's streets. He is interrupted by a woman, Maureen (Toni Collette), who has the same fate in mind. She shyly offers to wait her turn, until two other strangers, a young woman named Jess (Imogen Poots) and a pizza deliverer called J.J. (Aaron Paul), also turn up. Martin is recognised by the others, having been a popular television personality before going to prison for a relationship with a girl who turned out to be 15. After talking things over, the four strangers form a pact, vowing to wait at least until Valentine's Day before again attempting suicide. Maureen has a disabled son she adores, but little life beyond that. Jess is the daughter of a politician (Sam Neill) and their relationship is strained. J.J. is an American who once played in a band, but while his three new acquaintances are suicidally depressed, he claims that he is terminally ill with cancer.