My IMDb Rating: 9
Average IMDb Rating: 6.8
Vitals
Runtime: 105 minutes
Written by: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Richard Ford (based on the book)
Directed by: Paul Dano
Starring
- Ed Oxenbould (The Visit, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)
- Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko, End of Watch)
- Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman, She Said)
- Travis W Bruyer (Ted K, Bring on the Dancing Horses)
Synopsis
One day, golf pro Jerry Brinson (Jake Gyllenhaal) is fired from his job. He is later told it is a misunderstanding and he can come back, but he decides against it. Instead, this makes him realize his life was too safe and boring. He wants more, so he decides to volunteer as a firefighter to take on the wildfire that is currently blazing in the mountains nearby. The only problem with his decision is that he makes it without consulting his wife Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) or his teenage son Joe (Ed Oxenbould). Jerry knows he will only be gone a few weeks (assuming everything goes as planned). However, Jeannette is more skeptical and fears the worst. In addition, without Jerry’s income, she and Joe are forced to take on jobs to cover the expenses. Jeanette works as a swimming instructor at the YMCA and Joe begins an apprenticeship at the local portrait studio.
While Jerry is gone, Jeannette begins to revert back to a younger version of herself, one where she hadn’t yet met Jerry. She begins flirting around with men from her work, eventually beginning an affair with Forester (Travis W Bruyer), whom she had taught to swim. She tries to minimize it around Joe, but he is perceptive and sees the whole thing. He is old enough to understand what she is doing, but not why. He is left alone and confused. He desperately wants his dad to return and hopes that will return his family to normal.
Eventually, Jerry does return. He survived the fire and can now find a new job. However, Jeannette is not so excited for his return. She immediately announces she is moving out and getting her own apartment. Jerry questions Joe about it and learns of the affair. When Jerry loses control of himself and attempts to burn down Forester’s house, he realizes he has gone too far. Forester declines to press charges, but Jerry and Jeannette still have to address their relationship.
Ultimately, Jeannette moves away to Portland, Oregon where she gets a job as a schoolteacher. She continues to stay in touch with Jerry and Joe and visits them from time to time.
In the closing scene of the film, during one of Jeanette’s visits home, Joe decides to use his newly learned photography skills to capture his family on film. He gathers his parents to the portrait studio and takes a professional photo of the three of them. Even though their lives are broken apart and nothing is certain, at least he will have a reminder of when his family was whole and happy.
Analysis
I went into this movie knowing nothing. I had never seen a trailer, read the book or even heard what it was about. I found it by searching through Carey Mulligan’s IMDb list and the title and synopsis piqued my interest. I expected it to be a good film, but wow, I was not expecting it to be as phenomenal as it was.
There were powerhouse performances by all three lead actors (Mulligan, Oxenbould, and Gyllenhaal). Gyllenhaal doesn’t get as much screen time as Mulligan or Oxenbould, but he still delivers a knockout performance.
The story took place in 1960 and everything about it felt 1960. It felt like it could have been made in 1960. The costumes, sets, and hair and makeup were all spot-on. Case in point, Jake Gyllenhaal looks a little like Don Draper. That is one benefit to a small cast and a small-town setting with minimal sets.
The dialogue felt genuine and the screenplay by Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan was phenomenal. The directing was excellent. For a directorial debut, I was impressed. Had I not known that, I would have thought he had at least a few movies under his belt already.
Cinematographer Diego Garcia does some astounding work with the locations. One scene that is used several times as an establishing shot shows the stunning mountains in the background with a training rolling by in the foreground. It’s a simple shot, but instantly sets the scene and builds a light, quiet mood.
Another cool shot comes at the end showing the exterior of the Brinson house with Joe on one side, in his room, and Jerry and Jeanette on the other in the kitchen. They had just finished talking about the future of the family and Joe decides to go to bed. The shot lingers on the house for a while until eventually, Joe turns his light out and the parents leave theirs on.
The obvious symbolism of the wildfire looming in the distance to Joe’s own family is an interesting effect. At one point, Jeanette drives Joe to the fire and we see his reaction before seeing the actual fire. A bit of foreshadowing for what it is to come later in the movie.
There is little music or soundtrack used. It predominantly relies on the natural sounds of the world. Another feature that greatly enhances the quality of the picture.
Interestingly, it felt like it was made in a different era – like the early 90s or early 70s. That’s interesting since it is based on a novel of the same name by Richard Ford which was first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1990.
In some respects, especially in terms of the framing of each shot, the movie feels like an Edward Hopper painting come to life.
Notes
It’s part of the Criterion Collection – spine #1031
This is Paul Dano’s directorial debut
Carey Mulligan later starred with Zoe Kazan in She Said and she is currently (at the time of this writing) filming a movie called Spaceman with Paul Dano.
Paul Dano previously starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in Prisoners and Okja.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan previously co-starred in Brothers.
This movie is based on the book of the same name by Richard Ford. I have read the book and it maintains the same lowkey intensity as the movie. Great job to Dano and Kazan for adapting the screenplay.
NOTE: My research and notes come from IMDb and Wikipedia
Trailer
Reeling Reviews 