By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Andrew Irvine | Mark Smoot
Starring: Austin Amelio | Catherine Keener | Charlie Heaton | Jackie Earle Haley | Jefferson White | Rosa Salazar
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 89
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11902024/reference
Michael says: “What sounds like a sordid plot from the trashy soap opera is handled with intelligence and care, and bolstered by remarkable lead performances to become a portrait of the collective trauma that is running rampant through small towns across America due to drug addiction. When an old friend shows up at Will’s door, he is clearly uncomfortable. Will is a recovering addict, on the verge of hope that a drug-free life is within his grasp, so out of self-preservation, he rebuffs his old pal Chris who is still hooked on drugs. When Chris dies of an overdose that night in his bedroom, Will is wracked with guilt, and attends the funeral service where he reconnects with Chris’ mother, Claire. The pair’s mutual grief brings them together, and despite the fact that Will is on the verge of a commitment to move in with his girlfriend, he ends up involved in an affair with Claire. Addiction and guilt do not mix well, and when deception is added to the mix, there’s no way for this story to go except downhill. Fortunately, Irvine and Smoot have written a nuanced screenplay that avoids sensationalism, and the performances by Charlie Heaton and Catherine Keener are beautiful in their vulnerability and sensitivity. One scene in particular that shows Claire imagining that two young women are talking about her and her son at her place of work is a revelation, and a lovely moment to show the range that Keener is able to bring to a role that is so far beyond the smart, cynical character she so often is known for. 4 cats“