Causeway

But I enjoyed it. It's pace is studied. There's a tenderness to the way the story unfolds. Lawrence plays it straight if somewhat somber in her delivery. And I think this sets the tone all the way through the movie. There's very little deviation from the baseline of her recovery.

Brian Tyree Henry seems to hit on the same frequency. But the chemistry between him and Lawrence is real. The dialogue is slack and natural. A wonderful study in character that charmed me from the beginning.

I appreciate movies like this with no pretension or great overarching theme. It's a simple human film about two shattered lives that find some solace between them. I loved it for that; for all the things that's it's missing. What remains is a beautiful story.

Nothing much happens. But it really moved me nonetheless. Not in a dramatic kinda way, but in a mellow, kindhearted, subtle way.

The story: Lesbian soldier (Jennifer Lawrence) suffering from a brain injury is struggling to heal, phyisically and mentally. And she finds a male friend (spoiler: NO romance), whom she can share her feelings with.

This story might sound a bit like a sentimental tearjerker perhaps, but it sure as heck is the opposite of a tearjerker. It's true, down to earth and heartfelt. And so recognizable and humanlike...

The good: NOT a blistering drama, no, this is a SUBTLE, moody, ENDEARING CHARACTER portrait, with beautiful photography, with a heartfelt direction (debut) and excellent acting performances.

More good: Jennifer Lawrence SHINES. She simply does. And she shines at acting a fierce, yet struggling woman, fighting to stay afloat after she suffered from a debilitating brain injury.

The many, MANY emotions that Jennifer Lawrence is capable of showing, whithout even speaking, is to die for. She is the real thing! Her opposing leading actor is terrific as well.

Any bad? Not suited for the impatient, because nothing much happens at all, but this subtle story really moved me nonetheless. This movie is an ACTOR'S movie. Full stop. And I loved watching it for these many excellent true to life acting performances.

Such an achievement to act out SO many emotions with such a simple story and with so few use of words. This is why I love to watch cinema. Bravo!

(Produced by Jennifer Lawrence herself).

What I like about this movie, aside from Jennifer Lawrence giving a really beautifully natural performance, as well as a primo performance by Brian Tyree Henry, is the reality of life. I won't talk about the main plot, the story itself since that would spoil it, but I will say that the portrayal of the mundane, day-to-day life, which let's face it can be pretty slow, yet fruitful (ask anyone growing up before technology) and the dialogue between the two is normal, natural, as they become friends and deal with their personal situations. I enjoyed this slice of life movie more than I expected to.

An observational drama on an injured soldier's return to a broken home. The subsequent recovery process through befriending another lost soul, and making family amends in this thought provoking drama that leaves it to the viewer's discretion...

There is no melodrama or hissy-fits about poor me from Jennifer Lawrence as Lynsey, downplaying the role to the point where you forget the actor and get caught up in the emotions of the character. And that goes to the whole cast, who played it in tune to the subdued thoughtful tone of the film.

There is no riveting story here, just performances that felt so real without being too loud. One for the film school...

This is a slow, sad, sentimental and sweet plot ( not a story really) about Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence) who suffers from the effects of trauma after returning from the war in Afghanistan. ( PTSD) .She was caught in an explosion there which gave her a brain injury. Now she is trying to rehabilitate herself at her hometown in America. Director Lila Neugebauer presents a straightforward narrative as Lynsey attempts to rehabilitate herself. It is indeed creditable that the director has kept away from melodramatic and tear jerking scenes. Jennifer undergoes physiotherapy sessions to be able to walk and acts well to convey the exhaustion, pain and stress her character feels. Then again despite her traumatic experience in Afghanistan, she wants to get redeployed due to a dysfunctional relationship with her mother at home.( On her return from rehab Jennifer doesn't even get a hug or a comforting word from mom.) We have a paradoxical situation where she wants to go back to the war zone as she is not happy at home. A good part of the movie shows the friendship between Jennifer and Brian Tyree Henry, an automobile mechanic. Both are leading stressful lives and have a backstory to tell and both appear to be mirror images of each other in a way. Both are going through a process of healing of their turbulent past. There is a palpable comfort level seen as they spend time over a beer talking about mundane things. Both artists have given touching performances and may pick up awards. Jennifer excels in the scene where she persuades the neurosurgeon for a waiver so that she can go for redeployment and the scene where she speaks in sign language with her brother.