Articles + Quotes on Film & TV

Director and writer Destin Daniel Crettin has crafted a truly beautiful film, based on his own experiences working in a group home, for teenagers with nowhere else to go. Its painfully realistic, but with small moments of humour, that don't feel forced or corny. Those in the film business, no matter what position you hold, film students also, should take note. Every aspect of this film is perfect. Including the handheld camera work, its personal and it moves but you don't feel dizzy. The acting also - Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr, Keith Stanfield Kaitlyn Dever and Rami Malek and the other kids are utterly brilliant and believable, especially the two leads, Ms Larson and Mr Gallagher, understated and excellent. Its not a pretty picture, but the hope that comes from all of them is worth the retail price alone.

Before seeing this film, I saw a review which included the criticism that it was "...lightweight entertainment, that doesn't make you think too hard." Within five minutes of my viewing of this fine film, it became increasingly obvious that the reviewer making this remark had obviously been watching something else entirely. Mel Brook's The Producers perhaps. (No offence meant to this film or to Mr Brooks, the film is of the highest quality comedies, as its director.) George Clooney, wearing many different hats as director, producer, co-writer and main character, shines under all of them, bringing a little known story to life. Co-writer Grant Heslov also has a small cameo, as does the great composer of this movie: Alexandre Desplat. That of the thousands of art stolen from all over Europe, to be placed in the Fuhrer Museum. And the lesser known story of the Monuments Men, men chosen for their expertise in the field of art, architecture and sculpture. They were...