Movie Review Monday: Room
Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!
This week's film is the award season darling, Room (2015), starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay.
An intense, emotional drama, the story follows Larson and Tremblay as a mother and her son, Jack, who have been trapped in small room for years. As Jack grows older, Ma (Larson) begins to yearn for more for her son. As they devise a plan to escape, the outside world begins to look more harrowing than their simple existence inside.
Both Larson and Tremblay are incredible in this movie and have to be as they carry most of the story on their shoulders. We are up close and personal with both of them, getting an intimate glimpse into their unique way of life. We see the small joys, the hard moments, and the clever ways they make the most of their space. Something else I like about this movie is how timeless it is. It could happen anywhere at any time. It doesn't date itself in anyway. There is also some neat cinematography, as a lot of the shots inside the room where literally done in the small area itself, versus doing some type of camera wizardry. It helps to really give a raw, real feel and the give a sense of the claustrophobic nature of living in such small space.
I watched this movie with my partner, and we were both immediately invested, getting tense as the story unfolded and feeling everything right alongside the main characters. Watching movies that are award season fodder tends to be hit or miss for me, but I was very pleased with this movie. It is a dark, real look at how an experience would play out on all levels.
I recommend you check out Room, which you can rent from Redbox, or rent/buy from your favorite video on demand provider.