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.

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.

There's nothing wrong with this - it's not bad - but at the same time, there's nothing really great about it either. Just another story from the neighborhood - best part of the movie is the 70s soundtrack!

This is an Amazon original movie, my wife and I watched it at home streaming on Amazon. It is set mostly on Long Island and in Connecticut but was filmed in various Massachusetts locations.

The movie is really two parts and they cut back and forth. The older part is in the early 1970s when young JR and his mother deal with their situation by moving back to her parents' home, dad is a radio voice and mostly absent. JR's uncle (Affleck in a good role) operates his own bar and gives young JR some life advice. Mom wants JR to go to Yale and become a lawyer, but JR decides he wants to be a writer.

The other half is in the 1980s when JR is at Yale, then later when he starts to get jobs as a reporter. Woven in are his frustrations with the girl he falls for but she never seems to be able to choose just him.

All in all a good and interesting movie ultimately about JR's coming of age.