Le Bar de la Tendresse

It's 1973. JR (Daniel Ranieri) and his mother (Lily Rabe) have to move back in with her father (Christopher Lloyd). It's a house full of extended family including Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck). JR doesn't know his long-absent irresponsible father and Uncle Charlie who owns a local bar becomes his father figure. As an older kid, JR (Tye Sheridan) fulfills his mother's wish for higher education.

There are interesting moments of humanity and humor within an extended non-dramatic coming-of-age story. This is really a series of vignettes of his early life. Director George Clooney is a good workman but this story needs something extra. As it stands, it probably would work better as TV show. I kept thinking the kid needs some friends. Of course, the central theme is the father figure in a young boy's life. The movie needs to concentrate harder on that. Quite frankly, the movie needs more Ben Affleck. He has to sell this. He can't be a side character. I'm not sure if Clooney has the vision as a director.

My Review - The Tender Bar (Amazon Prime)

My Rating 8/10.

I'm so pleased one of my cinephile friends recommended this very uplifting and entertaining movie as one I may like and he was so right .

It's based on the coming of age memoir of Pulitzer Prize winning author 'J. R." Moehringer novelist and journalist and his childhood experiences growing up on Long Island .

"JR"'s memoir obviously impressed other famous celebrities as he has previously written the memoirs of both the American businessman and Nike co-founder, Philip Knight (Shoe Dog), and tennis star, Andre Agassi (Open) .

"JR" as he is known in this movie has recently been commissioned with help from Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex to write his memoir .

The book is likely to draw a huge audience, which is probably why it's drawn a huge advance of $20m (£14m), which Harry says he'll donate to charity.

Now back to this delightful film beautifully directed and co produced by George Clooney . This is the 2nd collaboration between Ben Affleck and George Clooney, after both served as producers on Argo (2012).

Ben Affleck plays Uncle Charlie , JR's substitute father and proprietor of the Dickens Bar which is the social hub of the town.

Ben Affleck gives a great performance full of the humour and wisdom that this young boy desperately needs after moving back to Long Island with his mother and her family after separation from an absent and totally disfunctional father known only in the credits as "The Voice " played by Max Martini a very apt name .

In a Variety interview, Ben Affleck said "I think the world is a tough and ugly place, particularly now, so I feel good injecting this movie onto the world." The real charm of this movie is from the 2 performances from Daniel Ranieri who plays young JR and Tye Sheridan who plays JR as a young man entering the world of journalism and romance.

Interestingly after The Tender Bar I watched the 2012 movie Mud where Tye Sheridan plays a young boy befriending a fugitive Matthew McConaughey and it's easy to see why he won many acting awards and most promising newcomer.

There are some other delightful performances in this movie that doesn't feature gimmicks or pretends to be great art but just tells a touching story that's inspiring and entertaining.

I particularly enjoyed Lily Rabe as JR's mother who is determined that he will go to Yale or Harvard and become a lawyer.

Also Christopher Lloyd as Grandpa there's a beautiful scene where crusty old smelly Grandpa gets gussied up and takes young JR to the schools "Fathers Breakfast .

I actually enjoyed The Tender Bar as much as the 2020 similar plot movie Hillbilly Elegy.

I really enjoyed this one. It has a phenomenal soundtrack, with some heartwarming moments and great performance by Ben Affleck as Uncle Charlie - the Uncle we all wish we had.

In some ways, it reminded me of Hillbilly Elegy. It's a solid coming-of-age film with a refreshing softness. The atmosphere of the film is infectious - we could all do with some of those bar characters in our corner.

Ron Livingston was well suited as narrator. It was also great to see Christopher Lloyd as the farting Grandpa - he's on a roll these days. I also thought Tye Sheridan held his own alongside the likes of Affleck. Lily Rabe really excelled at being JR's loving mother who just wants him to do well in life.

There are some laughs, some emotional moments, and a few thought-provoking lines. It's not short on inspiration for aspiring writers either. It's about life. It's about the people who help shape us, and it's about the importance of a writer finding their voice.

There is a group of people who have troubled the cinema, and this mass is fed only by spreading negative energy.

George Clooney and Ben Affleck have been targeted by such people throughout their careers.

The film, which Clooney did a very clean job, attracts people especially with its 70's texture.

Intelligently chosen actors and actresses, excellent selection of songs, cinematography, art direction are very good.

The script is already a book adaptation.

Tye Sheridan is my favorite generation Z actor. He showed her talent in this movie as well.

A very good 'Coming of Age' movie is waiting for you and the movie gives you more than what it promises in this sense.

The movie was good. Very touching and heartwarming, with a great sense of time and place. A little uneven at times. But Affleck gives what I think is his best, most real performance. Not his usual movie star stuff. He should be nominated for an Oscar for this.