Room
/"When I was small, I only knew small things. But now I'm five, I know everything!"
Filmology Rating: 3.5 out of 4
The movie Room is not based off a true story...... Thank God. However, similar stories like this one have happened in the past and because of that, make this movie very difficult to watch. This movie is about a woman who has been a prisoner for over 5 years now and had a son with her kidnapper and he recently just turned 5. This first act in this movie is the life they have inside of the "room" and the extreme hardships and horrific things they went through. The second act of this movie is how both of them adjust to living out in the real world after escaping (I wouldn't call this a spoiler because it does happen pretty soon after the movie starts and the movie is more about the adjustment to living out in the real world again) Brie Larson is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses and for good reason. She delivers an outstanding performance in this movie and really portrays each emotion so well that you feel so much for her. This is a movie that is very difficult and hard to watch and it is through the performance that she gives that helps bring this to light. Watching this movie, I think it is impossible not to get emotionally connected to these characters. I got teary eyed on many occasions and I am not afraid to admit that. This movie does an excellent job of pulling you in and never letting go. Jacob Tremblay, a nine year old, gives one of the best child performances I have ever seen. I very much look forward to seeing what else he will be in down the line. He plays the son in this movie named Jack. Jack has never seen the outside of the "room" which is no more than a 15ft by 15ft shed and his only view on the real world is a really crappy TV and a small window as a moon roof. Everything he knows has been learned from the TV or from his mother. When he gets out in the real world and away from captivity, he doesn't know how to react to everything. Everything is so new to him and he does an excellent job showing us this. His performance was truly amazing. This is one amazing movie that should receive more attention than it has gotten.
Rating: See It
-Nick
Room. Room took me by surprise. Following the 2016 Oscars, I knew that some stragglers still existed from the previous year. In my mind I was prepared to write off Room as another Oscar caliber film that would come and go in the mind of the public. Boy was I wrong. Room is, quite simply, an emotional gut-punch. Room is directed by Lenny Abrahamson and stars (now) Oscar winner Brie Larson and the wonderfully talented child actor Jacob Tremblay. The cast is also notably supported by other veteran actors including Joan Allen and William H. Macy. At its core, Room is a story about a mother and child who are locked away from the rest of the world. We learn early on that Ma (Brie Larson) was kidnapped at the age of 17 and locked in a room. During her 7 years in the room she gives birth to her son Jack (Jacob Tremblay). Every day in room is a struggle. Ma does her best to protect Jack not only from direct threats like her kidnapper Old Nick, but also from many unseen threats. Threats like bacteria and knowledge of what lies beyond room. We come into the film as Jack is turning 5 years old. With this new birthday comes a newfound desire for freedom. Ma finally decides to tell 5 year old Jack that what exists outside room is not simply more TV. This distortion of reality has kept Jack complacent, but Ma can no longer ignore her current situation. One particularly unique aspect of Room is the POV it uses. Nearly all of the story is told from Jack’s POV. Through Jack, we see the world in a way completely separate from the dark reality that clearly lies within Ma. The narration by Jack also provides us with an interesting insight into a mind that has been unexposed to the realities of the everyday world. Without spoiling I will say that a simpler movie would have ended during the halfway point of Room. Luckily, Room is a touching story that cares more about the characters than it does about their situation. The book Room is written by Emma Donaghue, but it is lovingly directed by Lenny Abrahamson. Special attention is payed to make the main characters incredibly complex. Ma and Jack have many flaws as a result of their incarceration. These flaws humanize the characters and make their bond all the more believable. What surprised me about Room was the emotional gravitas of the film. The story itself could easily be told in the darkest fashion, but what is presented in Room is a seemingly endless capacity for compassion. I cared about these characters and their struggles. Being able to craft a cast of complex characters that we can relate to is no easy feat. Even more difficult is being able to create a film that is gripping from start to finish. Within Room you will find wonderfully human characters and a plethora of emotion. Do yourself a favor and go see Room.
Rating: See It
-Tyler