I have seen scores of movies in my few years on this planet. I’ve seen the good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent. But there are only a handful of movies that have emotionally affected me and really bored into my soul. Room has been added to that short list.
Room, not to be confused with candidate for worst movie ever and cult classic The Room (2005), is a 2015 Canadian-Irish independent drama film directed by Lenny Abrahamson. It is based on the novel of the same name by Irish Canadian writer Emma Donoghue and she also penned the screenplay.
Room tells the story of 24 year-old Joy (Brie Larson) and her five year-old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay) who are being held captive in a garden shed by a man who kidnapped Joy when she was 17. The shed is their “room” and Joy convinces Jack that it is the entire world. “We’re never anywhere but here,” she tells him in one scene.
The premise of a parent creating a fantasy world to spare their child a harsh reality reminded me of the 1997 Italian comedy-drama Life is Beautiful, which coincidentally was one of the handful of movies I mentioned above.
Larson made a killing during awards season for this role including the Academy Award for Best Actress; the film also received nominations for Best Picture and Director. And Larson certainly gives a powerhouse performance. She is measured, layered, relatable and realistic. She is reportedly in talks with Marvel to play superhero Captain Marvel and if she lands the role they will have hired a most skilled actress.
Larson and Tremblay work masterfully off each other and you laugh and cry along with them. And what can I say about him? This nine year-old is one of the finest child actors I have ever seen. He acts with a range and talent that could put some of his adult peers to shame. He won some Canadian acting awards and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award, but how he did not receive an Academy Award nomination is beyond me.
Tremblay’s character is the eyes and ears of the film and we discover the world, big and small, through his eyes. The cinematography is fantastic and you every sight and sound is heightened. I began to feel claustrophobic being stuck in that room with them. (Starts singing) Let my people go!
On the plot, at first glance I thought the film was going in a thriller direction but it is actually a deep, thought provoking psychological drama. The themes of overcoming pain and letting go of the past are well explored and deftly executed.There were scenes in this movie that had me welling up with tears (I ain’t ashamed to say it) and others that had me cheering for joy.
I felt like a better person after watching this film. If you have not seen it then you need to.
Rating: Room gets a perfect 4/4 imaginary dogs.
So what did you think of Room? Did it touch your heart and make you pull out the ole tissue box? Feel free to comment below. And here are links to my other Oscars 2016 recap reviews The Revenant is splendid but not satisfying (Oscars 2016 recap, no spoilers, Flash Review) and Creed is a knockout of a film (Oscars 2016 recap, no spoilers)
For more tear jerking reviews you can follow me via e-mail or on Twitter @suprememango012.
Julien is outie like a navel. L8rs
I enjoyed this movie and agree with everything said in this blog.
thank you. much appreciated