Review of Mother and Child (2009) by Eric P — 23 Feb 2011
I don't appreciate when people say a film is simply "boring," but that's the best way to describe this. Maybe even, for me, emotionally detached. It felt as though everyone's performance was isolated, each character keeping each other at arm's length and therefore nobody in this film ever really got connected to each other -despite how the conventions of the plot would lead you to believe.
There wasn't anything in the performances for me (other than Annette Bening would I somehow feel connected to no matter what she's in... including The Great Outdoors). But to further expound the theme of emotional distance the film is shot in a way that I never feel connected to the story or anyone in it.
Maybe this was a very conscious choice, emotionally detached characters and leads to a stylistic choice that brings emotional detachment from the audience. But because of the directors choice in tone and, dare I use the term mise en scene, I felt nothing with this film.
A 2 hour plus movie that felt longer than Shoah.
This review of Mother and Child (2009) was written by Eric P on 23 Feb 2011.
Mother and Child has generally received positive reviews.
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