Momma's Man

A cinematic endurance test, tethered to a weakling character that nobody, mother included, would miss if he blundered into the bleak NYC winter night and never returned. Nice to see Richard Edson pop in; pity he had nothing to do.

Having gone to Sundance for the last several years, I am always looking for the same thing, a movie that will truly inspire me not only as a person but as an artist as well, and every year I find it gets harder and harder to find such a film. This year that film was Momma's Man. The film was heartfelt, funny at times, and incredibly poignant. All the performances, were very real and nuanced. I especially loved the actors who played Mikey's parents. They seemed to have come from an Elaine May or Cassavettes(john not nick) film. I almost expected Gena Rowlands to make a cameo as the next door neighbor. What I enjoyed most about Momma's Man that it felt honest in a way that a lot of movies today don't seem to be. There was no artifice, there was no talking down to the audience. Instead, the director let me experience, not just watch, but experience the emotional journey that Mikey took. I wish more movies would do the same.

This is simply one of the finest independent films I've ever seen, a story told with minimal dialogue but maximum heart and soul. Anyone who can't understand why Mikey is scared to leave his parents' home (and there seem to be a few of those shallow folks writing on this board) should get into therapy right away. In any case, Azazel Jacobs has remarkable insight and considerable writing and directorial skill, and his parents are wonderful as the parents in the film. Meanwhile, Matt Boren seems not to be getting enough praise for his amazing performance as Mikey. He's a fine and resourceful actor with a very expressive face. This movie is marvelous, and a completely must-see.

With Momma's Man, Azazel Jacobs has shattered the promise of his wildly impressive The GoodTimesKid and delivered a statement of personal artistic expression so profound and moving that I am still holding back tears days after having seen it. While Jacobs' film addresses many different issues and themes, for me what makes it so tear jerking is that it is the most beautiful and touching love letter to one's parents (and, in turn, one's childhood home) that I have ever watched, heard, or read. Momma's Man is more than just a transcendent, extraordinary achievement in low-budget film-making. It is a work of rare, true artistry. I came to the 2008 Sundance Film Festival hoping to walk away with a film that I could champion. While I discovered a small handful of superior, exhilarating work, Momma's Man is the type of experience that I wouldn't have dreamed was imaginable. I have never been so affected by a motion picture in my life. I don't want to merely champion this film. I want to order every single person I know to see it. I want to scream at every single distributor to buy it. I want to watch it again right now. Until then, I will replay it in my mind and let new tears stream down my awed, thankful face.

read the rest of the review here: http://www.hammertonail.com/?p=37

I watched this movie, and my reaction was mixed. I do not enjoy this movie as much as I hoped to (maybe because this movie is a tad slow and without climax, and because it dealt with matters that I do not feel connected to) but I know that this issue does exist.

The feeling that one have grown up and have responsibilities they have to shoulder, i.e having a family and jobs and own life, but at same time feels that one is not wanting to have all that, is real. There are some people who couldn't face reality and just wanted to break and return to their older life.

This movie dealt with real issues, and it does so without having to impose onto viewers whether to accept or not that this issue happens.

The length of the movie is not too long, but viewers who cannot comprehend the issue would find this movie a bore.