Great acting and fairly moving
- Falling review by TH
The plot is fairly straight forward. It's mostly a father and son story dealing with an angry and abusive father diagnosed with dementia.
It can be a hard watch and isnt the most uplifting of films but it showcases a great performance from Henriksen as the angry stuck in his own way bitter old man and Mortensen who feels unable to let go of helping his dad despite the constant hostility.
Only through the flash backs do you see any sense of care. This film like real life provides very little answers to why people become this way.
5 out of 5 members found this review helpful.
Engaging and well observed
- Falling review by SG
Well, this film stands out amongst the current post-covid crop of dross and CGI rubbish. This could turn out to be a classic given time. A well-observed drama bordering on the blackest of humour. It's about dementia and old school v new school social attitudes, without the usual woke nonsense. Well, worth a look.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Outstanding directorial debut by Viggo Mortensen
- Falling review by AER
Lance Henriksen is a revelation in Viggo Mortensen's directorial debut. Henriksen plays a bitter, prejudiced old man with on-set dementia and cancer. It's a tough watch as he lays waste to his caring family. It's written and directed with care and stands should-to-shoulder with recent - contrasting dramas about caring for aged relatives... ie: Supernova, The Father, and to a lesser-degree the Australian horror-drama Relic. Very moving and especially worth watching for Lance Henriksen's once in a lifetime performance. Those that love this actor for his sci-fi/horrors won't have seen him like this. He's a very talented actor anyway but Viggo Mortensen has gifted him the role of his career. His best since Dead Man, Near Dark, and maybe even Aliens/Alien 3.
A future drama classic.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Excellent Drama About Dementia
- Falling review by GI
This semi-autobiographical film from Viggo Mortensen, who writes, directs, produces and stars is a clear and emotional drama that focuses on the effects of dementia. He gives a restrained performance as John, a gay man living with his husband and their young daughter in California. He has to bring his frail father, Willis (Lance Henriksen) to live with them as he seems incapable of looking after himself at his remote farm. Willis is a deeply unpleasant bigot and the early stages of dementia bring out the worst of his racism and homophobia, tolerated by John and his family. The film flashbacks into Willis' past as the condition evokes confused and disjointed memories and Mortensen cleverly shows how Willis' increasingly awful behaviour is tolerated rather than challenged other than by the young family members who are unafraid to react. There's also a generational conflict at play here and whilst Willis is so awful that you almost despair at the tolerance his family show him there are instances of kindness in his past that balance the character. Henriksen is excellent as is Laura Linney as his daughter who is deeply frightened by him but tries to hide it. This is an interesting and quite compelling drama that showcases Mortensen's creative talents. Well worth checking out.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
when tragedy can be 'enjoyed'
- Falling review by CSF
Another type of coming of age. Great actors, great director. Not afraid to challenge the new philosophy of 'Woke', therefore very realistic and wise. You can draw your own conclusions and debate endlessly about it.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
A delicate, gentle & incredible directorial debut from Mortensen
- Falling review by TB
I really enjoyed this and rented it solely because it was Mortensen's directorial debut & attracted excellent reviews.
It is a very beautiful, slow and gentle film. There is a very strong naturalistic feel, with frequent cutting back and fourth between the past and present. Mortensen is shown as a skilled writer as well as a bold and competent director.
The performances are also great, but front and center is Lance Henriksen. For many people, he will be known as Bishop from the Alien universe, But he is also an exceptional actor and here he is giving a massive, meaty role to inhabit. It is a towering performance, full of upset, hurt and hate. But underneath all of it is a deeply miserable and scared man. Mortensen is also great, perfect as a deeply hurt and wounded man, trying to do the right thing which taking a torrent of disgusting abuse, much of it homophobic.
If this is what Mortensen has done with his first attempt of directing, I cannot wait to see what he does next. A brilliant debut.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Not sure this story was worth telling
- Falling review by GP
Obnoxious young man becomes an obnoxious, senile old man. Purely observational with the history provided giving us no explanations for either. Not sure why the film was made
0 out of 2 members found this review helpful.