In America (B or 3/4 stars)
'In America', a drama written & directed by Jim Sheridan, tells the poignant story an Irish family who comes to America with dreams of a fresh start after one of their young children have died. While they struggle to adjust in 1980s NYC, they find new friends, including a reclusive neighbor who provides hope, solace, & spirituality in the most unexpected of ways. The story is narratively told by eldest daughter, Christy. Her insight into the big picture of all situations that pop-up in this movie is wonderful to experience. High on sentimentality, low on melodrama, this is a subtle, thought-provoking film on immigration.
Johnny (Paddy Considine) is an aspiring Irish actor who's finding it difficult to find work in NYC. He goes to auditions, and dreams of making it big on Broadway and providing for his poor family. Living in a rundown tenement in Hell's Kitchen, and with little-to-no money, his wife (Samantha Morton) is relegated to working in the aptly named 'Heaven', the ice cream parlor on their block. Although they live amid 'junkies', they make reliable friends; it's all they've got. Although they're impoverished, they're relieved to have made it to the United States and they're an airtight family ... this gives them energy and incentive to drudge on.
But the black cloud that is their sons' accidental death constantly hangs above Johnny & Sarah's heads. Johnny has lost faith in God. He's numb, a shell of his old self. Their youngest girl, Ariel, still has nightmares. Sarah is in denial, etc. Without proper heating or cooling, they struggle in the Winter & Summer. And when Sarah becomes pregnant (after being told that she shouldn't have any more kids), the pressure on the family becomes overbearing. Tensions arise, & it becomes very difficult to keep their morale afloat. Enter Mateo (Djimon Hounsou), the scary, recluse neighbor who bonds with the girls before his terminal illness takes over. His presence in their lives (daunting, at first), proves to be beneficial as he acts as a sort of angel dropped from Heaven to help this struggling family.
Paddy Considine is great as the down-on-luck dad. Samantha Morton continues to amaze me. After Christy is needed for a necessary blood transfusion, Sarah (Morton) goes into a fit of delusional hysterics when she thinks her son is still alive, but suffering. She's terrifying in this scene. And it's startling how Sarah Bolger's Christy displays such unbelievable vulnerability & youthful intuition as the older daughter. Djimon Hounsou stands out as the loving, seemingly all-knowing neighbor who may know more than we think. His possible death coinciding with the possible life of Johnny's newborn instills the faith that was lost.
Some moments in this film are trite. Some moments (both positive & negative) fall into place a little too easily for me. It's a very good movie, if unspectacular. It's warm and good-hearted at the core. New York's ugliness morphs into beauty at the most interesting of times. 'In America' touches upon personal demons, family struggle, immigration woes, poverty, grief, life & death, but also ... the optimism that 'things CAN and will get better'. The acting is strong across the board. The script is great. The astute cinematography lends to the visual experience. And the music score is unforgettable. Whip out the tissues, and enjoy.
Johnny (Paddy Considine) is an aspiring Irish actor who's finding it difficult to find work in NYC. He goes to auditions, and dreams of making it big on Broadway and providing for his poor family. Living in a rundown tenement in Hell's Kitchen, and with little-to-no money, his wife (Samantha Morton) is relegated to working in the aptly named 'Heaven', the ice cream parlor on their block. Although they live amid 'junkies', they make reliable friends; it's all they've got. Although they're impoverished, they're relieved to have made it to the United States and they're an airtight family ... this gives them energy and incentive to drudge on.
But the black cloud that is their sons' accidental death constantly hangs above Johnny & Sarah's heads. Johnny has lost faith in God. He's numb, a shell of his old self. Their youngest girl, Ariel, still has nightmares. Sarah is in denial, etc. Without proper heating or cooling, they struggle in the Winter & Summer. And when Sarah becomes pregnant (after being told that she shouldn't have any more kids), the pressure on the family becomes overbearing. Tensions arise, & it becomes very difficult to keep their morale afloat. Enter Mateo (Djimon Hounsou), the scary, recluse neighbor who bonds with the girls before his terminal illness takes over. His presence in their lives (daunting, at first), proves to be beneficial as he acts as a sort of angel dropped from Heaven to help this struggling family.
Paddy Considine is great as the down-on-luck dad. Samantha Morton continues to amaze me. After Christy is needed for a necessary blood transfusion, Sarah (Morton) goes into a fit of delusional hysterics when she thinks her son is still alive, but suffering. She's terrifying in this scene. And it's startling how Sarah Bolger's Christy displays such unbelievable vulnerability & youthful intuition as the older daughter. Djimon Hounsou stands out as the loving, seemingly all-knowing neighbor who may know more than we think. His possible death coinciding with the possible life of Johnny's newborn instills the faith that was lost.
Some moments in this film are trite. Some moments (both positive & negative) fall into place a little too easily for me. It's a very good movie, if unspectacular. It's warm and good-hearted at the core. New York's ugliness morphs into beauty at the most interesting of times. 'In America' touches upon personal demons, family struggle, immigration woes, poverty, grief, life & death, but also ... the optimism that 'things CAN and will get better'. The acting is strong across the board. The script is great. The astute cinematography lends to the visual experience. And the music score is unforgettable. Whip out the tissues, and enjoy.