Review of Labor Day (2013) by Anna C — 13 May 2014

If you have been following my reviews, then you know of my enduring love for Kate Winslet. I have loved her for her fearlessness in portraying deeply flawed characters, from her first role as a girl who murders her friend's mother, in Heavenly Creatures. Last night I sat down to watch Labor Day, her recent film, co-starring Josh Brolin as an escaped convict who convinces a deeply wounded woman to take him home and shelter him until he can make good his escape. Kate is magnificent here, as is Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith as her son. Their story, masterfully told by the director, Jason Reitman, moved me to tears. Based on a novel by Joyce Maynard, it tells the story of three wounded souls who find what they need in order to heal over the course of a five day weekend at the end of summer. The setting is in New England and contributes to a contradictory sense of a tight knit community that keeps to itself. The camera work is exquisite.

I am liking the mature Kate Winslet even better than the young ingenue. Her work in Mildred Pierce, Carnage, and now, Labor Day have shown a depth of character that only comes with maturity. I think, and certainly hope and pray, that we have many more films to look forward to from her!