Rent The Glass Castle (2017)

Powerful stuff - The Glass Castle review by JG

An amazing film that tracks backwards and forwards into the past and future to tell the tale of a dysfunctional family spearheaded by a father (acted by Woody Harrelson) ) who can be deeply committed to the family one day and a brutal, drunken bully the next.

Films based on truth tend to resonate with a tight and emotional grip, yep it’s a well known fact. The Glass Castle easily achieves this accolade. What’s so gripping is how this real mental brute of a father can suddenly flip his personality, and say and do things that instantly transforms him into a man of believable vision and compassion.

The kids fight back, especially the fathers favourite (acted by Brie Larson). These are kids under pressures most of us can only imagine. How a family stands united faced with adversity. The story rolls and bucks with great acting and directing. Powerful stuff. If you haven’t already done so, add it to your list.

Sentimental Tosh - The Glass Castle review by JD

I felt I was being manipulated by the undercurrents of this movie. On the surface we are asked to fall for the “close knit, salt of the earth, American family”.

BUT,

.....the left wing view that it is acceptable to let your children go hungry while your Dad gets drunk and smokes ?

......The Grandmother molests your younger brother ?

.......it’s ok to hit your kids ?

No no no, the only redeeming feature was to meet the “real” Jeanette at the end of the movie and in the extras, who seems wonderfully well adjusted !

Brie Larson and Naomi’s Watts are very good, Woody Harrelson so-so as the bully of a Father.

Sorry, it may be a best selling book, but I was not impressed by the tone of the movie at all.