Deeply moving and darkly funny.
An uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.
Casey Affleck offers what I can only describe as the best performance of the last 5 years. He doesn’t portray grief or anger he plays someone who is broken and that’s no easy feet. This movie cleverly documents the series of events that lead him to being broken. The cinematography is riveting, the way Jody Lee Lipes captures the faces of the actors and the picturesque background imagery is both unique and superb. The use of soundtrack instead of audio in certain, more emotionally charged scenes leads to a direct focus on the actions and case of the actors to great effect.
In addition to Casey Affleck’s phenomenal performance Kyle Chandler and young star Lucas Hedges also offer heartbreaking performances. This movie documents life in the best way, it doesn’t overplay events or emotions it documents things as they are and how the world always keeps turning. It’s breathtaking. The use of dark, sadistic humour coupled with cynicism and raw emotion makes for a complex, dynamic and scary look at reality.
Overall this is one of my favourite films of the Oscar season and in a long time.
5 Stars
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Universal Entertainment
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