Review of Labor Day (2013) by Lavonne S — 02 Feb 2014

An unusual Jason Reitman film, but still much better than the critics despise it. The story is a pretty much off the shelf family melodrama, with heavy erotic tension between the lone and depressed housewife (Kate Winslet) and the strong escaped convict (Josh Brolin) who surprisingly makes a good husband and father, if not the whole village would be searching for him. So they try to escape together.

With most other directors and actors it would have been a painful and revealing experience, think Sam Mendes, and on the opposite end someone like Scorsese or Fincher would have overdone the tension and shock elements. Reitman plays more with the soundtrack and the excellent static camera, but not as boring as in "Road to Perdition" or "Revolutionary Road". Having Winslet and Brolin for sure helps a lot.