Raymond & Ray

So I've binged just about everything series wise. I'm into thriller mystery, so I decided on this movie for my lazy Sunday afternoon for some change. Admittedly, it's not as much of a comedy as I thought it would be. I'd describe it more as "lighthearted " and has a couple funny moments. Overall, it's a pleasant movie that definitely starts off slow. There's nothing in it that stands out except great acting. It's entertaining "enough". Didn't turn it off. So I guess I'd suggest to give it a try for a good 30 minutes and decide for yourself. If you are looking for a laugh out loud comedy gem, then don't even try. Find something else.

Greetings again from the darkness. Hey, you know that Dad we hated ... the one that ruined our lives? Well, he died and I need you to come with me to the funeral. Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia (ALBERT NOBBS, 2011) starts his film in this manner by having Raymond knock on the door of his half-brother Ray's cabin door in the middle of the night. They haven't seen each other in five years, but their shared bond is an ill will towards the father who stirred such misery during their childhood that neither have made much of their time since.

Raymond (Ewan McGregor) is a persnickety type; a pent-up bundle of anxiety who has gone through a couple of divorces and is currently separated from his third wife. Ray (4-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke) is his opposite - the former addict (7 years sober) puts off the ultra-cool guy vibe with rumpled clothes, tousled hair, and non-stop flirtations. His talent with music was never encouraged by the father and has since been a source of frustration. In other words, these two grown men are messes due to the resentment they've carried for their father and his inexcusably poor parenting.

At first, we assume the two men are going to sit around reminiscing about their horrible memories of dear old dad. Instead, they hop in the car and head out of town to the funeral. It's here where they begin to piece together the last years of their father's life. Bedridden at the end, he had a room in a former (and younger) lover's house. Lucia (an excellent Maribel Verdu, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, 2001) welcomes the men with the surprise disclosure that her young son is their half-brother. At the viewing, they meet dad's nurse Kiera (the always terrific Sophie Okonedo). No, she doesn't have another half-brother for them, but she zeroes in on Ray and his approach to the proceedings.

More surprises await Ray and Raymond, not the least of which is that dad's final wish was for them to dig his grave by hand. At the grave site, they are joined by dad's flamboyant pastor (Vondie Curtis Hall), as well as others with a bond to the man in the pine box. Most of these people are unknown to Ray and Raymond, and they begin to realize the man they've held in contempt went on to live a full life. Veteran actor Tom Bower has limited screen time as the dad, and overall the cast is strong and deserving of a script that could take the topic and these characters much deeper. Hawke is especially good as the brother holding in so many emotions, while McGregor plays off of him quite well. While there is nothing here we haven't seen before, we do wish the cast had more to work with.

The film will have a limited theatrical release on October 14, 2022 prior to screening on AppleTV+ beginning October 21, 2022.

Raymond & Ray will give you a clue about the darkness of this two-half-brothers drama when you know that their father gave them both the same name. Raymond (Ewan McGregor) and Ray (Ethan Hawke) are attending their father's showing and burial more as a get-to-know-you road trip than honoring the abusive parent whom they barely knew except through their bleak memories of his neglect and meanness.

Raymond is a mediocre businessman on his third divorce; Ray is a secret jazz trumpet player and recovering addict. Although they are estranged, the trip will open up wounds wide enough to last the rest of their lives. They bond, so to speak, through the friendships of their dad's mourning acquaintances and an exercise worthy of prison life, digging his grave at his last request. The friends reveal dad's womanizing life, and the digging provides plenty of figurative interpretations like dad's influence even after life into the after-life.

The upside of this morose journey is their meeting two splendid women, both revealing somethings about dad pleasant and depressing. Father's buoyant ex-lover, Lucia, played by Maribel Verdu, excites Raymond while dad's ex-nurse, Kiera, wryly played by Sophie Okonedo, provides a dose of tough love. These estimable new friends are the only gifts dad has given the boys. However, the ladies exist mostly to heal the boys rather than give us robust characters emerging fully.

Besides these entertaining women, Vondie Curtis Hall gives us a hip pastor with his own acute observations and amusing side-show antics at the internment. If you're scarily happy at this Halloween time, let Raymond & Ray bring you down a notch or two and see lead actors at the top of their game. Apple TV +

IN A NUTSHELL: Two brothers share a name and a road trip to their estranged father's funeral. Reunited to carry out their father's last wishes to dig his grave, they dig deep into their past traumas and uncover the history of the man they both hate. Resentments, secrets, and memories flood in, presenting the brothers with a chance to reconcile their past and find forgiveness and a way forward. All the while, the question arises if one ever really knows their parents-and must your upbringing define who you are as an adult?

The film was written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. It was nominated for "Best Film" at the Rome Film Fest this year.

THINGS I LIKED: I've always been a fan of Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke. They have great chemistry together and are true pros, giving outstanding performances filled with nuances. Ethan Hawke's daughter is now in the movie business. Check out her recent performance in Do Revenge. She looks just like her dad and her mom, Uma Thurman.

The supporting cast members also do a great job.

The story forces us to take an honest look at our own lives, our family relationships, and the legacy we'll leave.

The quirky humor is often very amusing in a subtle way.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: There are moments that feel extremely forced.

Some of the characters make odd choices.

The dialogue missed a few crucial moments, in my opinion.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be extremely bored.

Profanity, including F-bombs There's a lot of talk of a man who was a womanizer.

A man flips the bird We see a photo of a nude woman from the back with a side shot Talk of drugs We see the backside of a man

THEMES: Dysfunctional families Brotherhood Grief Forgiveness The power of music Death Legacy Infidelity Marriage

This is a slow moving meditation on grief, family dysfunction and letting go of the past. Both Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke give heartfelt and believable performances as two estranged brothers. You have to be in the mood to watch this slice-of-life film as it does plod along. We saw the movie trailer and knew this was one of those offbeat films that probably won't attract a lot of viewers. The supporting cast is decent. Sometimes a storyline is interesting enough that you are willing to immerse yourself in that world for 2 hours. At its best, you can learn from whatever life challenges the characters are experiencing. Then when the credits roll, you are glad you put in the time to explore that world.