The Son

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I was reminded of a movie from 1985 called TWICE IN A LIFETIME. In that one, Gene Hackman left his wife (Ellen Burstyn) for younger, more vivacious Ann-Margret. He lived happily after and everybody else accepted it. But I didn't believe it for a second. In this one, Hugh Jackman has left Laura Dern for somewhat younger Vanessa Kirby and started a new life with a new baby boy. Dern and their teenage son (Zen McGrath) were supposed to just suck it up and get over it. But they didn't. The son especially is in bad shape. This movie is a heck of a lot more honest than TWICE IN A LIFETIME. It is both painful and sad. When the son starts having serious emotional problems, they work it out so that he goes to live with his father and the new wife. Everyone tries to make it work, but it doesn't it. The story is brilliantly acted by the four principal players and Anthony Hopkins, in a dazzling cameo as Jackman's father. The trouble with this film is that there's really no place it can go. It's an untenable situation and no matter what anyone does, the past cannot be changed. Based on a French play, Le Fils, its stage roots show. It isn't claustrophobic, but it IS really talky. The actors handle the dialogue quite well, but their silent moments are every bit as powerful as their big speeches. Jackman, especially, gives a masterful performance in which he runs the gamut of emotions. His final scene is a real tear-jerker, but the part I liked best was when he danced. This is when filmgoers get a brief glimpse of Jackman the charismatic stage performer. (Please let him do more of this in future films!) This movie is a soap opera-a well-done soap opera, but nonetheless, that IS what it is.