There are two reasons to go out of your way to see this movie. One is its focus on the effect of mental illness in a family setting. It's openly autobiographical - the father of writer/director Maya Forbes and her sister suffered from bipolar disorder - which lends it a sense of authenticity. On the other hand, I wonder whether Ms Forbes might have gained something by putting the story a little more at a distance from herself, perhaps updating it to be a contemporary piece. I expect her mother would still have a tough time getting the kind of job she wants: that kind of sexism is still very much with us, equal rights acts notwithstanding.
The second reason to see the movie is Mark Ruffalo, who is amazing as the afflicted father, Cameron. That sounds as if it might be a flashy performance. Not the case. The reverse, in fact. Mr Ruffalo IS Cameron for the duration of the movie. He really is one hell of an actor. Line up his work here with that in Foxcatcher, or The Kids Are Alright, or You Can Count On Me: all related, but subtly different and completely convincing.
He is very well supported here by Zoe Saldana as his wife, along with Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide as his daughters. They make a convincingly troubled but loving family unit.
I wish the film held together better than it does. It doesn't feel as satisfying as I suspect Ms Forbes set out to make it. I don't really know why. Maybe there's an uncertainty of tone: the story follows the facts, and maybe that isn't helpful in helping us understand the issues. Maybe it needed, as I said above, a bit more distance. All the same, it is a commendable movie in many ways, certainly worth seeing, especially for Mr Ruffalo.
The second reason to see the movie is Mark Ruffalo, who is amazing as the afflicted father, Cameron. That sounds as if it might be a flashy performance. Not the case. The reverse, in fact. Mr Ruffalo IS Cameron for the duration of the movie. He really is one hell of an actor. Line up his work here with that in Foxcatcher, or The Kids Are Alright, or You Can Count On Me: all related, but subtly different and completely convincing.
He is very well supported here by Zoe Saldana as his wife, along with Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide as his daughters. They make a convincingly troubled but loving family unit.
I wish the film held together better than it does. It doesn't feel as satisfying as I suspect Ms Forbes set out to make it. I don't really know why. Maybe there's an uncertainty of tone: the story follows the facts, and maybe that isn't helpful in helping us understand the issues. Maybe it needed, as I said above, a bit more distance. All the same, it is a commendable movie in many ways, certainly worth seeing, especially for Mr Ruffalo.