Reviews

It is Christmas Eve, 2016 and I had no idea why I recorded this... yet now I understand. I lived in a world of bi-polarity and I needed this film today. The systematic approach to the unraveling of one character poised next to the grounding and evolving of the two leads was illuminating. Reid Scott and Grace Kaufman were incredible together. The evolving of love, trust, and loyalty was compelling. People who have survived families with members who were mentally ill will appreciate the links that were absent in their own lives-the bond of love and the impact it has on emotional development. This movie takes on a very misunderstood issue of mental illness and misuse of psychotropic drugs. Everyone has a unique electrical system. The Psychiatrist espoused an ignorant manifesto, but he too evolved. I loved the movie because the conflict was realistic, approach individualized (never intended to be a panacea) and the characters were viable!

What a tragedy that our society has spiraled to such a banality of existence that a movie reflecting the complexity of love and surviving our own humanness is ridiculed. I viewed this movie with a Professor friend. The men and women viewing it all cried and loved it. I urge everyone to take the time to view a movie that is appealing to our greater values. I am deeply saddened that it received such a scathing review from critics, as everyone who walked out of the theater expressed that they were so touched and enjoyed it. Love and Light! Dani The stellar cast should have been nominated for best ensemble. Helen Miren was amazing as Death. Keira Knightly gave life to the abstract of love. Will Smith clearly emotes the depth of despair of a parent who lost a child. This is illustrative of connectivity on the planet. Each cast member made abstract emotions viable.

It is shocking to me that this film received rave reviews. I saw it Saturday at the DGA. I have gone to many screenings. This is the first time that half the audience left before Kenneth Lonergan, the director/writer arrived on stage. I actually felt sorry for him... people were leaving while he was speaking. Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges were terrific but not Casey Affleck. I felt Kenneth Lonergan missed a beat in the development of his character and something about the performance of Casey Affleck flat-lined. The performance of Lucas Hedges was criticized regarding the freezer scene. I totally disagree. Pulsating reactions to grief emanate from triggers that are unique to the individual. The supporting cast was stellar. They maximized a wanting script.

I was very surprised that there were such negative reviews! The movie is called "Mary, Mother of Jesus". It was Her Faith that propelled her husband St. Joseph, to be a Protector and basically live a nomadic life. It was her steadfast faith and teaching that shaped Our Lord. It was indeed a perspective of the Blessed Mother. All of the Principal Actors were outstanding! I can not imagine anyone else emoting the Holiness of Jesus with the excellence of Christian Bale. He was amazing! I loved both the young and adult Jesus, as well as the young and adult Mary. The movie stated that it was an artistic perspective. Geraldine Chaplin's agonized expression at the loss of her son, "John the Baptist" is haunting. We walked with Mary and St. Joseph as the challenges presented themselves, yet always learning. I felt closer to The Blessed Mother at the end of the movie, and I think that was the point.