Bad Hurt

Everyone does a good job here and while there are a few sweet moments and even some occasional laughs, life is hard for this family. It's not a very merry Christmas.

The parents are strong but have their flaws. Michael Harney is tough and has high expectations. But he can show emotion when he has to. As with most working class men in New York City, this is hard for Ed. It's never made clear whether Ed has a job, but he does put together an aquarium for the family. The house is large and nice but old style.

I don't have a clear memory of Karen Allen in the "Indiana Jones" movies, and I didn't know who she was, but she is not pretty these days, though that isn't important. Elaine shows a lot of determination and is very loving in a challenging situation. She will not let her children be mistreated.

Todd tries hard to do what is needed to support the family but is often reminded by his father that he is a failure. Which of course he is not. Theo Rossi is quite likable and determined. If Todd is not meeting his father's definition of success it's not for lack of trying.

Iris Galad is outstanding. Surely she is really disabled? No, her biography says she is quite educated. DeeDee can be adorable and it would have been nice to see more of her being pleasant and kind and even perky, but a lot of the time she is either angry or upset. But regardless of what the writers wanted, Galad is very convincing. And she is so happy when she dances.

Calvin Dutton is also quite convincing as a disabled man and I will just assume that is acting. Could he be a relative of the very respected Charles?

Johnny Whitworth also succeeds in giving a difficult performance. While it's never quite clear just what happened in Iraq, it affected Kent greatly.

And Ashley Williams was so nice but didn't get to do much. So kind and understanding when working as a fast food waitress.

I want to single out Fred Tolliver as a very kind marine.

I wasn't pleased with the music, but fans of depressing folk/alternative may enjoy what was played during a cemetery scene and what was played during the closing credits. I think both performances would be highly regarded. Christmas music was not traditional, which was a shame to me. Loud 50s rock and roll is not my idea of Christmas music (I draw the line at Brenda Lee and Bobby Helms), and there were somewhat more contemporary styles as well. Nothing newer sounding than, say, the 70s, but I like the 40s styles.

I don't think one would call this family friendly. Lots of words were missing, and there was drug use or talk of drug use. Certain situations were implied rather than explicit. Something was definitely going on between the two developmentally disabled people. I don't even want to know what DeeDee put in a box at work, but on broadcast TV we weren't allowed to.

It's worth seeing but just don't expect to be happy much of the time.

There's a moment in the movie, without spoiling anything, where the father, played by Michael Harney, slams his thumb with a hammer. The reaction on his face is genuine. I could feel the pressure on my own thumb nail. A small detail that reverberates power throughout this film. This film is power. And it's old school power. The work the actors are doing is reminiscent of Schatzberg's films of the early mid 70's, where actors were allowed and given the time to explore their characters through raw behavior. Thanks to a wonderful and patient writer/director, Mark Kemble, the work is allowed to resonate.

The small details in life are often missed for a more surfaced cinematic punch. The spectacle of explosion, or tears, or rage. "We meed to see that you're upset in order to make this moment happen!" Unfortunately, this is the case for most movies made in 2019. Kemble allows his material to breathe. Like a river, he guides his actors down their own intimate journey. Instead of identifying a moment and mathematically pining it down, he takes the uncomfortable route and lays it out raw. And in doing so, his actors find the darker parts of themselves through a very personal script.

This film of course is not for everyone. It has a melancholy tone with sometimes slow pacing. But if recognized, the honesty that lays underneath the gentle score parallels a depth seen in playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams.

This is a good film. The performances are excellent. For Theo Rossi fans he has a major part and his work is just fine, touching, and realistic. I was happy to watch him for extended scenes because I use to savor some of his brief scenes on Sons of Anarchy. Not sure how much the audience will cross over from SOA to this. But I enjoyed both.

Karen Allen shows the grief and love of this mother who has an indefatigable spirit to help her daughter. An amazing portrayal of a developmentally disabled woman by Iris Gilad. She is a young stage actress making her film debut. We will see a lot more of her.

The father played by the silver haired Michael Harney is every bit the crusty, irish alcoholic drowning his sorrows at the neighborhood bar without being a cliché. The handsome Johnny Wentworth is the oldest son - a disgraced veteran with PTSD and a nasty drug habit.

Calvin Dutton is a newcomer and he knocks it out of the park playing the suitor of Deedee. He is great.

So, it is sad. This story is major sadness - such as you experience with Eugene O'Neil or Tennessee Williams. After you experience what you THINK is the climax there is still 30 mins left.....room for even sadness. Don't watch the movie if you are sad, as I did.

The film is understated, realistic, and depressive however I promise you will end with a smile. There is hope for these people.