If the nub of a story is transformation - the lovers find each other, the hero wins through, the poor boy makes good - then this film quite lacks a story. And the director's attempt to 'artify' his creation with long, lingering shots of dreary snow scenes with the occasional car crossing the screen doesn't work for me. Try it if you like, but I'm not going to bother again!
Small quiet movie, a character study. All focus is on the young rock star wanna be played to perfection by Paul Dano. He is the kind of actor who after seeing him in one movie you think I want to see everyone he has beein in. He is in every scene. Two moments stood out for me. The first was is lip syncing dance to a song on the jute box that reveals all his hopes and dreams to be the star he will never be. He’s got all the right moves but will never make it. Next there is a touching scene with his daughter - he is allowed two hours alone with her. She asks, “why didn’t you ever come to see me.”. He struggles to find a real answer. She is already more mature than he will ever be. He is a sad loser. The most beautiful moments in his life seem to be the brief time with his daughter he never contacted before, never thought about until it was too late.
Took ages to get going, gave up after half an hour. Don't bother- not sure how its in Guardian 10 best films of 2013