LIKE a fine wine, Michael Caine gets better with age. While every era has yielded a few classic performances from the former Mr Micklewhite, it's the past decade that has provided some of his best work.

Highlights include an Oscar-winning turn in The Cider House Rules and a nomination for The Quiet American, plus vital nuanced supporting roles in intelligent blockbusters such as the new Batman series, The Prestige and Children Of Men.

His trademark blend of world weariness and eye-twinkling makes him perfectly cast as retired magician Clarence Parkinson, a curmudgeonly new resident in a small family-run retirement home.

There he meets Edward (Milner), a ghost-obsessed 10-year-old intrigued by what happens to the spirits of the old folks after his parents load their bodies into the morgue van.

Edward and Clarence strike up an unlikely friendship as they teach each other about life and death and, while it sounds like a clichéd plot device, it's one dealt with gently, compassionately and wittily.

Caine is excellent, as is young Milner, but they've got a great script from TV writer Peter Harness to work with that never gets too sappy or preachy.

As with similarly death-fixated quirk-piece Sunshine Cleaning, the film's charms lie in finding humour in odd places, delivered by well-rounded believable characters.

The story does feel like its rushing to its finale - much like life I suppose - but it has a lot to share on life, loss, regret and love.

Is Anybody There? is a sweet little story, unique in its approach to universal themes and carried by another wonderful performance from Caine.