Review of Things We Lost in the Fire (2007) by Jie A — 16 Sep 2008

Things We Lost in the Fire shows the effects on family and unity after the death of a loved one. I can relate to this story knowing how much it hurts you missing that particular person everyday. The story of this film is pretty even well paced. Benicio Del Toro gives a very invigorating performance, possible one of his bests. Halle Berry really surprised me in this film. She really shows the stages of grief and acceptance very well and at one scene I thought Oscar worthy again.

What could have easily been dismissed as a melodramatic weeper turns out instead to be something quite good. The overlapping closing scenes where Berry speaks not a word while coming in from the rain, and Del Toro delivers a rehab monologue that gives quite possibly the most honest insight into addiction and recovery ever captured on screen, is a hauntingly hopeful mosaic of small moments...