Review of The Tender Bar (2021) by Tvjerry — 23 Dec 2021

This film is based on the memoir about the author’s coming of age in Long Island. It starts in the 70s when the boy (Daniel Ranieri) and his mom (Lily Rabe) move in with her parents. Turns out his uncle (Ben Affleck) lives there too and he essentially assumes the guiding role in the boy’s life.

The story continues with the boy as a young man (Tye Sheridan) still trying to find his place in life and deal with his absentee father. Since George Clooney is directing, you can expect genuine performances and it’s true here with Affleck being especially tough and tender.

Clooney has effectively captured the personalities of the family and friends, with an emphasis on their New York accents and attitudes. While the narrative is pretty predictable and the writing isn’t especially evocative, the winning performances are the film’s strongest asset.