Review of Room (2015) by Odjento — 04 Feb 2016

Room was based on a book that was always going to be up for an Oscar if adapted to screen, but the film didn’t fully hold my attention all the way. The most intriguing and haunting part of the film is the first act within the room. It really nicely builds up the characters and explains their situation nicely along with how they feel about it.

The film is kind of narrated by the distorted view of Jack (who I sweaaaar was a girl) and it is interesting to see how he views things, despite his rather irritating but annoyingly understandable tantrums – I couldn’t emapthise with them because I can’t see it from his point of view but I totally understood why he had them which messed me up a little.

The film is flowing nicely whist in this room and is shot claustrophobically but also in a way that makes the room seem larger than it is (possibly to adumbrate the girls view of the room whilst only having been living in it alone) and this is a unique directing technique. I applaud this first half. However, as soon as the second half rolls onto the screen it loses its touch and becomes a unwarrantedly at times pessimistic story that has predictable story elements and characters that lose focus. The traumas of the outside world feel vapid and flat compared to the ones of the room, and therefore the film loses its focus.

Nevertheless Brie Larson brings a good performance but not as deserving of an Oscar as other nominees, she basically knows when to cry, when to shout and when to be nice and despite doing these well lacks any sort of originality to her role especially in this original kind of script. This does not mean she is bad, just possibly a little over praised that’s all, I did enjoy her role.

The child is does a great job especially considering he is a child actor.

A unique and for the first half emotionally exhausting film, but saunters and permeates too much in the second and thereby loses focus. Not as strong as his previous film.

6.5/10.

P.S. I would’ve really liked a Tommy Wiseau cameo or “The Room” mention in the film. Not appropriate? Probably not bearing in mind the subject matter of the film but still, would’ve made my day.