Review of Being Flynn (2012) by Rainer K — 10 Jul 2012

How has Being Flynn a rotten rating?

Bob De Niro returns to form again in a career that eroded dramatically over the last 15 years (except some funny or genuine small roles he aimed mostly for the cheap money I guess...). He plays Jonathan R. Flynn, one of only three classic writers in American history - at least according to him.

Everyone else would describe him as a bum - a racist, a homophobic, an alcoholic, temporary homeless, and, despite he's a maniac and full of shit, indeed the survivor he claims that he is.

That makes his arrogant character not more likable though and yet in the last moments of the film we get a glimpse of a more mature version of him and we hope for him that he may could turn around his life after all...

Alongside him, Paul Dano plays the same character he always plays and shows yet again that he's capable of incredible emotional meltdowns. Usually, I don't like him so much, but Being Flynn has a kind of atmosphere that really suits his style.

Generally, I like stories about writers (as the older Flynn points out they have a tendency to craziness so there's quite some material here) and Being Flynn is not the exception. No, it even exceeded my expectations. Here's an easy story to tell, with a strong father-son conflict to build around but the smart script by writer/director Paul Weitz is really at its best when it let's some things unsaid (there's this one beautiful scene when they're discussing the suicide of the mother - that pretty much sums up what I tried to explain in the last paragraph).

I enjoyed Being Flynn very much and utterly recommend it to anyone.