Review of Lion (2015) by Paul F — 11 Feb 2017

After seeing Lion, I don't think I will fail to appreciate Google Earth ever again. I've made it my goal to see every Best Picture nominee before the Academy Awards ceremony (considering it is in two weeks, I doubt that will happen), and this marks the second of the films that I have seen, the first being Arrival. And, after experiencing Lion myself, I can certainly see why it's in the Best Picture pool.

Lion tells the story of a young Indian-born man named Saroo, portrayed by Dev Patel, who was separated from his family when he was only five years old, and eventually adopted by a young Australian couple, portrayed by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham. Now, in a movie where two of the actors have Academy Award nominations for their portrayals, I'm obviously going to take a closer look at the acting in it. So it's no surprise that the acting here is exceptional. Dev Patel plays his part as Saroo fantastically, delivering an emotional, engrossing performance that carries most of the film. The actor that plays a young Saroo was also surprisingly good in his role, and does a great job making the audience feel for the kid and his predicament. The young Saroo carries the events of most of the first half of the film, and accomplishes that terrifically. Kidman, Wenham, and several of the other actors in the film do a great job as well, and I would not be surprised if Kidman walks away with an Oscar for her role as Saroo's mother.

Now, the story in Lion is something special. We've seen many films about the main character getting separated from their family for their entire, or most of, their life, and these can be cliched, cheesy, or just bad. Here, on the other hand, is something unique that stands out from most stories you've probably heard of. The story is handled well, dedicating a good chunk of the movie to Saroo's time in India before becoming lost, and an even better chunk of time in between the time he is lost and the time he is in his 20's. It builds his character and his relationship with his adoptive family flawlessly, giving the remainder of the film a strong emotional impact. Most of the rest of the film, his search for his biological family, is entertaining, exciting, and engrossing, mixing in other elements of Saroo's life (like his relationship with his girlfriend, portrayed by Rooney Mara) and making the audience develop an uncanny appreciation for the capabilities of Google Earth. With all of that and a very emotional conclusion, Lion proves itself as an effective film.

Oh, and I also gotta point out the music in the film. It's late and I don't really know how to smoothly incorporate a transition into this topic since I'm so tired, but the minimalist, violin-and-piano-centered score in the film is goosebump-inducing and great, and something I thought I should mention. Anyways...

Lion proves itself as a worthy contender for the Best Picture prize this year. Emotional is the best word I can use to describe it, given that I was shedding many tears at the conclusion of the film. And, of course, don't forget about that appreciation I mentioned for Google Earth. With great acting, an awesome, fact-based story, and some memorable screenplay, Lion receives a hearty 5 stars.