Causeway

As you would expect from A24, a quiet, not overdramatised film. Jennifer Lawrence shines, especially in the small moments, like the scene with her brother. In addition to the two strong main characters, the story also features interestingly written supporting characters such as the mother or the brother, about whom we only learn fragments of news. The original soundtrack by Alex Somers is particularly well done, really outstanding, if not the best I have heard in a cinema film this year. The rest of the background music, which deviates from the original soundtrack, unfortunately feels out of place. Look and camerawork simple but effective. 7/10.

I don't know if Causeway will be talked about during the Oscar season, but I thought the film was pretty solid. It's a slow examination of PTSD & the frustrating process of rehabilitation with strong performances from Jennifer Lawrence & Brian Tyree Henry at its core, their dynamic is what made the movie work for me even though it can be a tough watch at times considering the nature of the subject.

Jennifer Lawrence's character suffers from an incident in Afghanistan and she still has to deal with the repercussions now that she's back home, a place that she doesn't necessarily like to be. It's mostly a quiet film but it has some strong moments of emotions, especially towards the end where I felt like they did a good job making us care about the characters. The people in this movie felt very natural and that's just good casting & acting. A good reminder that Jennifer Lawrence can act.

The relationship between Jennifer Lawrence's character (Lynsey) and her family & friends is what drives this film. She has some work to do on her physical & mental health and we witness her journey as she tries to adjust to her new life. The bond she builds with Brian Tyree Henry is heartfelt as they share a similar trauma and are trying to help each other. It's not something I would be willing to watch again in the near future, it's a heavy subject, but at least there's some light in there to give us hope and make us appreciate the material.

7/10.

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.

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.

Acting tour de force. Jennifer Lawrence's performance is a gem, and Brian Tyree is as genuine as it gets. Low key, slow burn, with a great soundtrack. Will leave a longstanding impression. Scene with her brother was heartwarming and heartbreaking, but felt a little tacked on. This movie deserved a bigger theatrical release - why not? Apple wanted the exclusivity? A coup by Apple I suppose, but I fear this movie won't get the exposure it deserves. I want to see more movies like this from Jennifer Lawrence; her ability to turn a raw, soulful performance seems effortless - it is easy to forget her acting and simply believe in who she is portraying. 9 stars, I didn't want it to end as abruptly as it did. Still very satisfying and perhaps the ending is perfect as-is?