Review of The Sessions (2012) by Brian B — 05 Mar 2013

This is a really sweet and touching film. While it is, in large part, a film about how Mark deals with his own issues with his impediment, the film is mostly about how much love Mark had in his life even if he didn't realize it at the beginning.

It's also about how he, in his own way, changed the lives of people he could call his friends. I realize this all sounds corny as shit, but the film is anything but. It's tender and not melodramatic in the least.

It doesn't make Mark out to be a Muppet to be pitied. Perhaps the film will be too saccharine for some, but I didn't find it to be like that at all. The film is also very funny, it deals with sex in a very mature manner and how Mark sort of views his inability to be intimate with a woman, due to being in the state that he is, as punishment for his little sister's death when he was 8 years old.

So even though the sex jokes in the film are handled with maturity and warmth, the film is also a character study about why Mark feels he can never be intimate with a woman. The acting, of course, is tremendous.

John Hawkes has always been great and this film is no different. He brings a sympathetic yet very human portrayal of this man. Again, they could've easily made him into a Muppet but they didn't and John Hawkes deserves a lot of credit for that.

Helen Hunt is, surprisingly, very endearing in this role. Not that I hate watching her but I've never been a particularly big fan of hers either. And she's excellent in this role as well. Personally I think, while the supporting cast is great, they were probably a little too perfect in my book.

I don't know there's just something about them. But I digress, William H. Macy is always great so there you go as well. The supporting cast is really strong all around. The writing is also excellent, top notch work from top to bottom.

And all in all this is an excellent film that, despite its ending, makes you feel good about everything Mark accomplished in his life. So I definitely recommend this.