Review of The Confirmation (2016) by Erich — 28 Jan 2019

Usually I look for spy thrillers or murder mysteries, but occasionally I try out a movie that promises to be of "human interest" hoping it will be engaging (and bracing myself for something corny).

Well, The Confirmation delivered completely and beyond my expectations. All the actors are impeccable, from the main star, Clive Owen, with deeply ingrained imperfection guided by decency playing the father of the kid, down to smaller parts -- Maria Bello, nicely filling out her role as a pious Catholic without any of the usual Hollywood snarkiness one is tired of seeing; Stephen Tobolowsky, known for his outrageous role as producer Stu Baggs on "Californication", here playing the Catholic priest who hears the kid's confessions and who plays the part sincerely (thank God!) and yet comically; Patton Oswalt as a dubious friend of Clive Owen's investing his small part with a touching streak of a loser; the fine Robert Forster as a reliable friend who helps out; and lastly Matthew Modine perfectly filling out the role of the well-meaning stepfather of the kid.

Perhaps most remarkable is the actor who plays the kid, Jaeden Lieberher -- one hasn't seen a young kid act this well since the gold standard of the precocious child actor, Haley Joel Osment. All these actors and the director, Bob Nelson, combine to create a poignantly circumscribed, human story that while being searingly honest about human flaws, opens up breathing space for something worth living for: the love of a father and mother for their son.