THE SON – “The vital themes and swell performances can’t overcome the overly stilted screenplay”

theson

RATING

DIRECTOR

Directed by: Florian Zeller (The Father – 2020)

MAIN CAST

Hugh Jackman as Peter Miller
• Laura Dern as Kate Miller
Vanessa Kirby as Beth
Zen McGrath as Nicholas Miller
• George Cobell as young Nicholas Miller
• Anthony Hopkins as Anthony Miller

SYNOPSIS

It is based on Florian Zeller's 2018 stage play of the same name.

A couple of years after his parents’ divorce, 17-year-old Nicholas no longer feels he can stay with his mother, Kate. He moves in with his father Peter and Peter’s new partner Beth. Juggling work, his and Beth’s new baby, and the offer of his dream job in Washington, Peter tries to care for Nicholas as he wishes his own father had cared for him.

REVIEW SUMMARY

When it comes to Florian Zeller’s The Son, the vital themes and swell performances can’t overcome the overly stilted screenplay. And, honestly, it’s a shame, as the story at hand is an important one to tell. Deep depression in adolescents is an incredibly timely subject, and while Zellers takes the matter seriously, there’s a clear disconnect in his attempt to show the true impacts of it all. It boils down to a few things – questionable directing choices, heavy handed dialogue, and an underwhelming depiction of Nicholas (you know, “the son”). Zen McGrath, the actor who plays the teen, can’t be completely blamed for this mind you, as the writing was frustratingly depthless for Nicholas. Although, I can’t help but wonder if we would have gotten more out of a different, more tenured young actor in the role. And while there will surely be some resonating and stirred emotions along the way, they aren’t necessarily earned, but rather manipulated. Frankly, it’s all very aggressively contrived at times. Thankfully, Hugh Jackman puts on a tour-de-force performance, keeping it all from tumbling completely into melodramatic “after school special” territory. And the ending, well, that’ll be something to talk about on the car ride home. Listen, The Son is no doubt going to disappoint fans of Zeller’s previous film The Father, but there are morsels of good things to be found here - you’ll just have to overlook the not so great stuff!

BOX OFFICE TOP 5

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

6.5

ThumbIcon_Volcano_1

9.5

Dune: Part Two
$17.6 million

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

7

Kung Fu Panda 4
$16.8 million

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

7.5

Immaculate
$5.4 million

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

-

Arthur the King
$4.4 million

RECENT FEED