Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon take Jake Gyllenhaal under their wing in this emotional powerhouse loosely based on a real thing. It deals with truth, self-image, love, family, and moving on, all of which are expertly handled.
Hoffman and Sarandon play Ben and Jojo Floss whose daughter, Diana, has been murdered in a diner. Ready for the killer to be put behind bars forever with the help of their prosecutor (Holly Hunter), both have different ways of dealing with the tragedy. Jojo wallows in pity while Ben tries to keep extra busy with his real estate business. Ben would love nothing more than for his would-have-been son-in-law, Joe (Jake Gyllenhaal) to thrive as his protege.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a big hit-and-miss for me, but he nails his performances as Joe Nast. Joe wants to be the perfect son, and since he doesn't know what he wants to do for a living, he figures he might as well go into business with Ben. On the other hand, Joe doesn't care about real estate and he has a deep, dark secret about him and his fiancee that will change the way the loving Ben and Jojo see him. He is torn between how society wants him to be and how he wants himself to be.
Joe eventually meets Bertie (Ellen Pompeo) who works at the post office and at a local bar. She has a similar story to Joe and a friendship blossoms between them. She helps Joe realize who he is and gives him the courage to be honest about his relationship with Diana, but a possible romance could spell disrespect at a time of mourning. However, Joe and Bertie grow so much as people, they would be able to figure a good deal in advance if things aren't working about between them and break up like civilized people.
There is no surprising that Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon give Oscar-worthy performances as the grieving parents. The surprise would be Mr. Gyllenhaal who gives one of his finest and most layered performances as the protagonist in a fabulous acting decathalon. The problem with Gyllenhaal is most of his films is he is forceful whenever things get turned up. That's what I was expecting in such a sad movie, but the character of Joe Nast really inhabited him.
This movie is not without reservations. Most of the comic relief (which is at the beginning) sucks. And I thought that the climactic courtroom scene till the end could have been thicker in its delivery. That part is good, but not as good as nearly everything beforehand.
The four leads are perfect in an original and heartbreaking premise. This is one film I highly recommend.
3.5/4.
Hoffman and Sarandon play Ben and Jojo Floss whose daughter, Diana, has been murdered in a diner. Ready for the killer to be put behind bars forever with the help of their prosecutor (Holly Hunter), both have different ways of dealing with the tragedy. Jojo wallows in pity while Ben tries to keep extra busy with his real estate business. Ben would love nothing more than for his would-have-been son-in-law, Joe (Jake Gyllenhaal) to thrive as his protege.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a big hit-and-miss for me, but he nails his performances as Joe Nast. Joe wants to be the perfect son, and since he doesn't know what he wants to do for a living, he figures he might as well go into business with Ben. On the other hand, Joe doesn't care about real estate and he has a deep, dark secret about him and his fiancee that will change the way the loving Ben and Jojo see him. He is torn between how society wants him to be and how he wants himself to be.
Joe eventually meets Bertie (Ellen Pompeo) who works at the post office and at a local bar. She has a similar story to Joe and a friendship blossoms between them. She helps Joe realize who he is and gives him the courage to be honest about his relationship with Diana, but a possible romance could spell disrespect at a time of mourning. However, Joe and Bertie grow so much as people, they would be able to figure a good deal in advance if things aren't working about between them and break up like civilized people.
There is no surprising that Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon give Oscar-worthy performances as the grieving parents. The surprise would be Mr. Gyllenhaal who gives one of his finest and most layered performances as the protagonist in a fabulous acting decathalon. The problem with Gyllenhaal is most of his films is he is forceful whenever things get turned up. That's what I was expecting in such a sad movie, but the character of Joe Nast really inhabited him.
This movie is not without reservations. Most of the comic relief (which is at the beginning) sucks. And I thought that the climactic courtroom scene till the end could have been thicker in its delivery. That part is good, but not as good as nearly everything beforehand.
The four leads are perfect in an original and heartbreaking premise. This is one film I highly recommend.
3.5/4.