Directed by James Gray
Starring Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Anthony Hopkins
This is an earnest autobiographical film that consistently feels close to the filmmaker’s heart, as if he (acclaimed writer-director James Gray) has simply made a film about a childhood tale of his. Although this tale isn’t exactly the newest story around (a happy young boy is forced into a preppy private school, to his disappointment and disdain), it’s enjoyable and comforting to watch, despite not leading up to much of a conclusion.
Taking place during the pivotal prepubescent time of young teen Paul (Banks Repeta), we see how his friendship with Johnny (Jaylin Webb) brings out the trouble-maker in the both of them, and how his family react strongly to this. His mother Esther (Anne Hathaway) is loving and maybe slightly doting, but still strong-minded about how she wants to direct her son in the right path. His father Irving (Jeremy Strong) is also a mixed bag, a concerned, but considerate dad who wishes the best for his son, though that can involve beating him with the belt. Paul feels closest to his grandfather Aaron (Anthony Hopkins) who seems to have more time to actually divulge necessary life lessons to the kid.
This is a handsomely made film that’s very evocative of the ‘70s era without having to be show-offey. There’s the music, the TV shows, the news programmes, the horrible interior decor, but it’s all thankfully just supporting the story and housing the characters, rather than being the main focus of the film.
As entertaining as this is for a family-orientated drama, it does seem very general with its values, and by the end seems unsure of what it wants to say exactly. There’s the feeling the film is trying to connect this time with our current time, and it does this through having none other than Donald Trump showing up as one of Paul’s new class “mates” (his one and only line in the film includes an n-bomb). Although this film navigates around being a moralising and didactic tale, it also conversely concludes with too much left in the air.
It’s a lovingly made film that’s made all the better by its lived-in feeling, helped by authentic acting and writing, but more interesting meat to its skeletal story, more of a purpose rising through it, would have elevated this material to be more memorable and resonating.
DAVID MORGAN-BROWN
