Director James Gray recreates his childhood in Queens in 1980, growing up in a modest Jewish family and witnessing upheavals in his own life, including a dicey friendship with a kid from the other side of town and the trouble it brings. Among his family, he is closest with his aging, but inspiring grandfather who urges him to become his best self. His parents and older brother, on the other hand, are aloof and ossified, not on his wavelength at all.
Any kid who grew up in New York City in the late 20th Century will find this engaging, fascinating and evocative. Other viewers might find this film meandering. It's a touching slice of life and an old school story about a young man who sees and understands the adversity that other kids less fortunate than him have to go through. Although this film's title turns out to be an esoteric reference to political rhetoric used at the dawn of the Reagan years, in itself it conveys little about what the real story is about. The Presidential election provides an historical backdrop, but the liberal family's political angst is more a nostalgic detail rather than a central storyline.
Performances overall are quite good, with Anthony Hopkins doing the heavy lifting as the sage grandfather who is the backbone of the family. Banks Repeta is compelling as the protagonist. Jaylin Webb is likeable as a black kid trying to navigate an America that has just begun to integrate. Anne Hathaway makes an impression as the fiercely overbearing mother. Jeremy Strong is solid as the boy's working class father, although his character is disappointingly one-dimensional. Jessica Chastain is utilized in little better than a cameo appearance.
Some voiced criticisms deserve a response. The notion that this film has no plot and no ending is a pretty clear misreading; I would hope that those who have watched were at least paying attention. Reviewers who have political grievances against this film have missed the point entirely. But for those who like an old school depiction of adolescent turmoil and budding social awareness, this film is grandly recommended.
