A Home at the End of the World
(C or 2/4 stars)
'A Home at the End of the World' (directed by Michael Mayer) aims to tell a good sad story. Two childhood pals, Bobby & Jonathan (Colin Farrell, Dallas Roberts) face their past in the present when they reunite alongside a new friend, Clare (Robin Wright Penn) in 1980's NYC. The threesome becomes a love triangle. And life, death & disease takes their toll on them. Will their awkward triangle draw them closer or push them away? This drama offers decent acting, but the overwhelming sadness within the story takes its' toll, and a depressing blandness sets-in right up to 'til end.
Bobby had grown up in 1960's suburban Ohio where drinking & drugging was commonplace. He witnesses his older brother's shocking, accidental death (it knocked the wind out of me), & also has to deal with his mom's death, all before even meeting Jonathan. Bobby's father then dies, and Jonathan's family take him in (including a great Sissy Spacek, as Jon's mom). Jonathan has led a sheltered life, so it doesn't help that he thinks he's a homosexual. And because Jon & Bobby are so close, a sort of pseudo-bisexual friendship/relationship blossoms; they love each other as brothers, but have fringe benefits, so to speak.
They eventually lose touch, but come together again some dozen years later. Although their personalities couldn't be more different, they reconnect and Bobby moves in with Jonathan & his wacky roommate, Clare. Clare wants a baby & is resolute to have Jonathan (though, gay) be the father. But things go awry when Bobby & Clare hit it off (which saddens Jonathan as he still has feelings for Bobby). You see the complexities here. Clare gets pregnant ... but who's the father? How will this impact the threesome? Will their friendship endure? Can this oddball family (including the baby) dodge illness, hardship, and hold together?
At least this film was unpredictable; which is good, because so is life. When the acting hit, it hit hard. But still, the acting was unsteady. I'm not a huge fan of Dallas Roberts. And something oddly distracting was the fact that the 3 actors who play Bobby at different stages really don't transition well. Not only did they vary, physically (including bad wigs), but their demeanors all seemed different. That's not what you want when trying to keep continuity with your lead character! Also, something I loathe is when directors/writer's think its brilliant acting to have characters stare into space for 30 seconds & play it off as meaningful. Aside from bursts of exhilarating acting, there's nothing left in this film. The story is different (in a good way), it was just executed in a boring fashion.
Bobby had grown up in 1960's suburban Ohio where drinking & drugging was commonplace. He witnesses his older brother's shocking, accidental death (it knocked the wind out of me), & also has to deal with his mom's death, all before even meeting Jonathan. Bobby's father then dies, and Jonathan's family take him in (including a great Sissy Spacek, as Jon's mom). Jonathan has led a sheltered life, so it doesn't help that he thinks he's a homosexual. And because Jon & Bobby are so close, a sort of pseudo-bisexual friendship/relationship blossoms; they love each other as brothers, but have fringe benefits, so to speak.
They eventually lose touch, but come together again some dozen years later. Although their personalities couldn't be more different, they reconnect and Bobby moves in with Jonathan & his wacky roommate, Clare. Clare wants a baby & is resolute to have Jonathan (though, gay) be the father. But things go awry when Bobby & Clare hit it off (which saddens Jonathan as he still has feelings for Bobby). You see the complexities here. Clare gets pregnant ... but who's the father? How will this impact the threesome? Will their friendship endure? Can this oddball family (including the baby) dodge illness, hardship, and hold together?
At least this film was unpredictable; which is good, because so is life. When the acting hit, it hit hard. But still, the acting was unsteady. I'm not a huge fan of Dallas Roberts. And something oddly distracting was the fact that the 3 actors who play Bobby at different stages really don't transition well. Not only did they vary, physically (including bad wigs), but their demeanors all seemed different. That's not what you want when trying to keep continuity with your lead character! Also, something I loathe is when directors/writer's think its brilliant acting to have characters stare into space for 30 seconds & play it off as meaningful. Aside from bursts of exhilarating acting, there's nothing left in this film. The story is different (in a good way), it was just executed in a boring fashion.