Film No. 54 (2016) September 3rd. 11.00 PM LUNA Leederville.
"I don't know what trouble he can get into in a day" (Walt (Clive Owen) reinforces the fact their son Anthony (Jaeden Lieberher) will be in good hands, to ex-wife and mother Bonnie (Maria Bello).
McDonalds has a lot to learn if they think they have cornered the market when it comes to offering the perfect father/child affirmation experience. The Confirmation betters anything a McDonalds experience offers and does it in spades. This mini road movie, which doesn't move beyond a local neibourhood, is genuinely heart warming without the cliched moments so common when it comes to heartfelt films.
Bob Nelson wrote Nebraska, a hit in the independent film space, three years ago. His creative work on this occasion was directed expertly by Alexander Payne. The Confirmation is solely his baby. He makes his directing debut and just maybe this is the beginning of a star career of the Richard Linklater type. Nelson has created a human drama where good people play out their everyday lives so ordinarily and seamlessly we know we've been touched by a film which never tries too hard to impress.
A script like this has to be cast with the right child actor. From the time we meet Anthony (Jaeden Lieberher), in the confession box in the opening scene, he controls the tempo of this mini road movie. He begins his confession but has nothing to report, in his mind he has been pure since his last visit. His week-end with dad (Clive Owen) is going to have an impact on his next one on one with his priest. Owen's Walt is emotionally bruised and is recovering from alcohol addiction. There is never a threat to Anthony's safety in Walt's care, only smatterings of misadventure in a quest that will help to get Walt's life back on track.
The Confirmation is simplistic but making everyday people likeable to the point we cheer them on to conquer the minor evils they face in their quests, ticks a massive box for Nelson. Maria Bello, as Anthony's mum Bonnie, is one dimensional and her new husband Kyle will have you knowing the actor's face but grappling for his name for a time. Their roles were essential but their few scenes are so good, we crave for more. The Confirmation reminded me of the classic Paper Moon; there is gentle love of the best kind which lingers with us. 9GUMS.
The Confirmation is simplistic but making everyday people likeable to the point we cheer them on to conquer the minor evils they face in their quests, ticks a massive box for Nelson. Maria Bello, as Anthony's mum Bonnie, is one dimensional and her new husband Kyle will have you knowing the actor's face but grappling for his name for a time. Their roles were essential but their few scenes are so good, we crave for more. The Confirmation reminded me of the classic Paper Moon; there is gentle love of the best kind which lingers with us. 9GUMS.
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