The Son Movie Review

 The Son is a drama film directed by Florian Zeller. The screenplay for the movie is scripted by himself and Christopher Hampton. The producers are Joanna Laurie, Iain Canning Iain Canning is an Oscar-winning, 36 years old Bri >> Read More... , Emile Sherman Emile Sherman is an Australian film producer. He w >> Read More... , Florian Zeller, and Christophe Spadone. The cast of the film includes Hugh Jackman He’s one of the sexiest men alive. His solitary de >> Read More... in a lead role, Zen McGrath, Laura Dern Laura Dern is an American actress, director, and p >> Read More... , Vanessa Kirby Versatile actress and model Vanessa Kirby are well >> Read More... , Hugh Quarshie, and Anthony Hopkins “Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, and Sadako Sofubi >> Read More... . The Cinematography is done by Ben Smithard. Yorgos Lamprinos edited the film while Hans Zimmer German-born musician Hans Zimmer is known as one o >> Read More... gave the music. It’s the third sequel after the Oscar-winning movie “The Father” and “The Mother” directed by Florian Zeller. All these three movies showcase families dealing with issues and relationship conflicts.

Plot

The movie follows the story of Peter (Jackman), a successful businessman forced to face his past when his distanced son returns home after a long absence while facing depression.

Peter tries to manage his work and both of his families. He is married to Anne (Dern) and has a daughter, but his relationship with his son Nicholas is drained due to events that occurred in the past. Nicholas suddenly reappears after many years, and Peter struggles to reconnect with him and correct his past mistakes.

Star Performance

Hugh Jackman handled his intense role of a father trying to get back with his son & managing his work simultaneously. Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby were in supporting roles. Zen McGrath could have been better as the son in conveying his emotional sorrow to the viewers with better expressions. Anthony Hopkins’ Oscar-winning performance in the cameo was the best. His role as Peter’s father is outstanding.

Analysis

The film tackles complex themes such as family, forgiveness, and mental illness, which are handled with sensitivity and insight. It focuses more on the parent’s side than the son who suffers from depression. It shows how these issues affect the victim and his family and how to handle them. This movie demands a sense of understanding about mental health issues from the viewers to relate to and understand what the actors convey. The entertainment-seeking viewers might find the film to be boring.

The prequel of this series, “The Father,” released in 2020, was more intense than this film. The depth is missing in this part, with a superficial approach to mental health issues.

What’s There?

• One of the strengths of "The Son" is the performances of its cast, particularly Hugh Jackman, who delivers a powerful image of a man struggling with guilt and regret.
• Another strong aspect of the movie is its cinematography and direction. The film's use of close-ups and unconventional camera angles creates an intimate and thrilling atmosphere that perfectly captures the emotional turmoil of the characters.
• This film gives a sense of the real world, considering the busy father trying to handle his work, new family, and his son’s issues, even though he couldn’t solve them.
• The cameo role of Peter’s father, played by Anthony Hopkins, is a noteworthy performance which emphasizes Peter’s role as a father and also as a son himself.

What’s Not There?

• The nonlinear structure of the story can be confusing at times.
• Some of the characters’ performances could have been better, particularly Nicholas, with a not so strong dialogue delivery. He could portray his mental health issues with greater intensity to give a candid feel.
• The repeated whining of Nicholas and flawed method acting depicting his depression give a hint of a weak movie script.

Verdict

Overall, "The Son" is a moving and thought-provoking film with a talented star cast and skilled direction. If you can relate to emotional performances and try to understand & observe an actor’s work, then you must give it a watch. If you enjoy character-driven dramas with excellent performances, "The Son" is worth checking out. While it may not be a film for everyone, those who appreciate well-crafted storytelling and powerful acting will find much to admire in this touching and affecting movie.