Sure, Blackbird is sweet and sentimental, but it lacks true emotional depth. It’s no fault of the actors though, as everyone here does their part to try and make it work (it’s mainly Sarandon and Winslet’s movie, however). The issue is the story, as it plays out in rather contrived ways, especially in the third act. Things are fairly stilted from the get-go though, as it’s almost as if it were staged like a theatrical play. The subject matter (a sick family matriarch having one last hurrah with her family before she ends things on her own accord) is admittedly tackled with tenderness, making for a couple of touching moments, but not nearly enough. For a movie of this nature, the emotion needed to be genuine and cranked to 11. Instead, it’s tepid and frustratingly mediocre. The cast (and audience) deserve better!