This is only going to be a short review. It’s late and I sadly won’t have
time to write a full review before I see Inside Llewyn Davis tomorrow. I’ve
just got home from the premiere of Labor Day, an adaptation from the novel of
the same name by Joyce Maynard. I walked into the premiere without any
preconception of the movie. The only information I knew regarding the film was
it was directed by Jason Reitman and starred Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. I’m
a huge fan of Jason Reitman’s directional style along with his previous work
which has included movies such as Juno and Up in the Air. If you asked me to describe
a typical Jason Reitman movie, I would refer to them as dramatic comedies which
focus on serious subject matters, for instance - teen pregnancy in Juno or the
economic downturn in Up in the Air. But Labor Day is far different from any
previous instalment of Jason Reitman’s work, which isn’t necessarily a bad
thing; in fact I thought it was a step in the right direction. Labor Day is a
hard hitting drama set over the Labor Day holiday weekend evolving around Adele
played by Kate Winslet, a single depressed mother and her teenage son Henry
whose path crosses with escaped convict Frank, portrayed expertly by Josh
Brolin. Adele and Henry begrudgingly welcome Frank into their life, while he
attempts to keep a low profile from the law. But over the course of the weekend
Adele begins to slowly allow herself to become more intrigued by the mysterious
nature of Frank becoming increasingly conflicted over not only whether Frank is
truly guilty but also her feelings towards him. Jason Reitman, Kate Winslet and
Josh Brolin were in attendance and briefly introduced the movie.
The movie which is set in 1987 begins with a beautiful montage drifting
through the
New
Hampshire landscape in which
the cinematography was stunning especially the tree sequence with the falling autumn
leaves. Tobey Maguire, who portrays the older version of Adele’s son Henry,
narrates us through the movie similar to his effort in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great
Gatsby earlier this year. I personally felt it didn’t work there and doesn’t
work here either, but the older Henry gives the audience a brief insight into
the depressive state of his mother Adele. It is presumed the depression begun
after her husband played by
Clark “Agent Coulson” Gregg left her for his
secretary but the issue is far deeper then that. Adele, who doesn’t leave the
house very often, takes her son to purchase some new clothes in which Henry
encounters a wounded Frank, who immediately requests he be introduced to Adele,
an easy target potentially? Frank manages to talk his way into hitching a ride
back to the Wheeler household, where he openly confesses he is an escaped
convict, who is on the run after jumping out of a second story hospital window
while having his appendix removed. Frank promises to leave once his leg has
rested and healed. During his stay Frank takes it upon himself to play the
father role in the house, demonstrating his domestic house skills for example
fixing squeaking doors, washing the floor, teaching Henry how to play ball or
my favourite sequence showing Frank preparing and cooking both chilli con carne
and peach crumble. I made a chilli con carne the other day, very simple recipe.
But both sequences were beautifully shot and directed by Reitman, cooking has
never looked so artistic. Adele is clearly lost without a man in her life and
Frank attempts to earn her trust by filling that void with both characters
finding solitude in each other. But how much longer can they pretend to live
out this fantasy before reality strikes?
Overall the movie is wonderfully directed with such precision and care from
Jason Reitman in a more mature approach from his other directional efforts. I
personally feel this is his finest work to date. Kate Winslet gives her usual
outstanding performance in a more subtle manner easily portraying the nervous vulnerability
of Adele while shining in the third act when it is revealed the real reason
behind her depressive state. Josh Brolin perfectly executes and balances the
rugged charming macho persona with the serious, firm survival instinct. The
reason Frank was imprisoned isn’t initially revealed, intriguing the audience
through a series of flashbacks leaving us like Adele to question throughout the
movie whether we should trust this man or not? When the truth behind Frank’s
imprisonment is revealed, the outcome is beautifully portrayed by Josh Brolin.
He truly is one of the finest actors working in
Hollywood. Gattlin Griffith while wasn’t anything
special, he more then held his own against these two Hollywood heavyweights,
while Maika Monroe brought some of the usual humours wit known from Jason
Reitman into her small role. Overall the cast did a fantastic job but I do
question the decision to cast a big
Hollywood
star such as Tobey Maguire for a small supporting role in which Maguire only
makes one on-screen performance. Ang Lee decided to re-cast Tobey Maguire’s small
role as “the reporter” in last year’s Life of Pi and I wish Reitman would have contemplated
the same idea. Nothing against Tobey Maguire, I just felt he wasn’t necessary. I
also wasn’t a huge fan of the decision to replace Gattlin Griffith during the
final few scenes with Dylan Minnette, who seems to be Hollywood’s go to person
for the son role. Henry had only aged by three years, which I felt Gattlin
Griffith could have easily portrayed, especially considering the scenes, they
were hardly a stretch. Dylan Minnette portraying Henry was not only pointless
but may have been confusing for some viewers. Overall Labor Day consists of a
beautiful score combined with stunning cinematography, strong lead performances
along with a fantastic directional effort from Jason Reitman who demonstrates a
powerful look at love and the art of freedom.
So how do I think Labor Day will do with the Academy? Well Jason Reitman has
a good track record with the Academy in his short career. Juno earned four
nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role for
Ellen Page and won Best Original Screenplay. Up in the Air received six
nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role for George
Clooney, Best Supporting Actress for both Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick along
with Best Adapted Screenplay. While Young Adult was completely overlooked by
the Academy which is sadly the same fate I believe Labor Day will suffer. With
a trailer yet to be unveiled and only a limited release late into December, I personally
don’t believe Labor Day will create enough buzz to compete in such a
competitive season. It’s unfortunate because like I already stated earlier, I personally
believe this is Jason Reitman’s strongest directional effort yet and he would
warrant a Best Director nomination more for Labor Day then his previous
directional nominations. While I don’t think Labor Day will receive any
nominations, if the Academy takes a liking to the movie, these are the categories
it could have some potential success.
Oscar Potential
Best Picture
Best Director, Jason Reitman
Best Actress in a Leading Role, Kate Winslet
Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Josh Brolin
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Original Score
Best Cinematography
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