I told myself that I would only write reviews for movies that I see in theatres from here on out. But I suppose exceptions can be made. I'm making that exception for Jason Reitman's Labor Day. When a good director makes a bad movie, you feel it. You feel the artist behind the camera desperately try to make art out of garbage, and typically the end result is regret. Regret of an opportunity wasted. Labor Day is one of those cases.
Jason Reitman seemed to be on such a role. I loved his first four movies (Thank You for Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air, and Young Adult), and had hope that he could continue his winning streak with Labor Day, the first straight "drama" he has made yet. Sadly, the final result is the most outrageous movie to be released in quite some time. It's a self-serious drama that begs you to buy into its romance. Hell no.
Oscar Winner Kate Winslet magically earned a Golden Globe nomination here for her role as Adele, a slightly depressed divorced shut in who lives with her emotionless son Henry (Gattlin Griffith). On Labor Day weekend, the two take a rare trip to the grocery store, where they meet Frank (Josh Brolin), an injured man who asks them to take him to their house.
Soon, they discover that Frank is an escaped convict who served many years for murder. Are they scared of him? No, not really. Griffith doesn't really show emotion here. He mainly just reads off of a teleprompter. Anyways, soon, Frank ties Adele up. Then what does he do? Brace yourself, it's crazy: he cooks a bowl of chili. Adele and Henry just happened to be held hostage by the gentlest murderer of all time.
Soon, they make a peach pie. Then, Frank plays baseball with Henry. Then, Frank and Adele become lovers... all within five days. They become so madly in love that they discuss leaving the country together as a family. Do you see where I'm going with this? While I watched this movie, I constantly asked myself if what was happening was actually happening. It's a love story so ludicrous I can't believe Winslet didn't chuck it out the window the second she read it.
Reitman has said that the novel moved him to tears. Unless the novel took place in a year, then there's no way that's possible. I didn't buy it. There is plenty of talent on display here. Brolin and Winslet are watchable in anything, but Labor Day is pushing it. Instead of being moved by the romance, I was moved to laughter. I laughed and laughed at the plot inconveniences, and just how hard Reitman tried to make a compelling movie. I needed a drink afterwards, and I'm not talking about soda.
C-
Jason Reitman seemed to be on such a role. I loved his first four movies (Thank You for Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air, and Young Adult), and had hope that he could continue his winning streak with Labor Day, the first straight "drama" he has made yet. Sadly, the final result is the most outrageous movie to be released in quite some time. It's a self-serious drama that begs you to buy into its romance. Hell no.
Oscar Winner Kate Winslet magically earned a Golden Globe nomination here for her role as Adele, a slightly depressed divorced shut in who lives with her emotionless son Henry (Gattlin Griffith). On Labor Day weekend, the two take a rare trip to the grocery store, where they meet Frank (Josh Brolin), an injured man who asks them to take him to their house.
Soon, they discover that Frank is an escaped convict who served many years for murder. Are they scared of him? No, not really. Griffith doesn't really show emotion here. He mainly just reads off of a teleprompter. Anyways, soon, Frank ties Adele up. Then what does he do? Brace yourself, it's crazy: he cooks a bowl of chili. Adele and Henry just happened to be held hostage by the gentlest murderer of all time.
Soon, they make a peach pie. Then, Frank plays baseball with Henry. Then, Frank and Adele become lovers... all within five days. They become so madly in love that they discuss leaving the country together as a family. Do you see where I'm going with this? While I watched this movie, I constantly asked myself if what was happening was actually happening. It's a love story so ludicrous I can't believe Winslet didn't chuck it out the window the second she read it.
Reitman has said that the novel moved him to tears. Unless the novel took place in a year, then there's no way that's possible. I didn't buy it. There is plenty of talent on display here. Brolin and Winslet are watchable in anything, but Labor Day is pushing it. Instead of being moved by the romance, I was moved to laughter. I laughed and laughed at the plot inconveniences, and just how hard Reitman tried to make a compelling movie. I needed a drink afterwards, and I'm not talking about soda.
C-