Daddy Longlegs

It's interesting and a little bittersweet to go back and watch Daddy Longlegs in a post-Safdie Brothers world. They've gone their separate ways as directors apparently, which is a shame, because each feature film they made was a little better than the last. And Daddy Longlegs was the first they directed together (there was another slightly earlier that just one of them did). There was also a documentary somewhere I believe. But the four core features - Daddy Longlegs to Heaven Knows What to Good Time and then Uncut Gems - that was quite the run. Uncut Gems was basically perfect, too, so I don't know if they could've ever topped that. Whether that was a factor in "breaking up or whether it was something else, I don't know.

Anyway, Daddy Longlegs is about a chaotic father looking after his kids and doing a bad job at it. Thats most of it. It's not great, but I'm also not crazy about these super raw, improv-ish character dramas. Even the ones by John Cassavetes don't do a ton for me. I think the main casting choice in Heaven Knows What makes that approach more interesting, and then Good Time and Uncut Gems are kind of on another level. It feels like there's more immediacy and more going on in those films, and it's sad they perfected a kind of cinematic anxiety and then dipped (though their solo films - which I hope will start coming out sooner rather than later - might end up scratching similar itches).

I think Daddy Longlegs is more than worthwhile for anyone considering completing the Safdie Bros filmography, but it's also not really my thing. It's listless and wandering by design, but I watch this kind of film sometimes and I'm like, "So what?"

I asked "so what?" to myself a little less during Daddy Longlegs than some other rambly films, so maybe it was doing something sort of right.

Daddy Longlegs (2009) is a comedy drama movie co-written and directed by the Safdie Brothers and it follows a father juggling his kids with the rest of his responsibilities and he is ultimately faced with the choice of being their father or their friend. This movie was a first time watch for me and it was just freaking fantastic.

Positives for Daddy Longlegs (2009): I really enjoyed the story of this movie and how it was executed. The acting from the cast particularly Ronald Bronstein as Lenny, Sage Ranaldo as Sage and Frey Ranaldo as Frey are great. I also liked the indie filmmaking look of the cinematography to the movie. The movie has a great pace to the story with scenes flowing perfectly. And finally, I like that the movie ends on a note that allows the audience to decide how the story ends for the characters.

Negatives for Daddy Longlegs (2009): Aside from the main story, there isn't anything else going on in the movie. You also have this conflict between the main character and his ex-wife that feels pointless and could've been cut for time.

Overall, Daddy Longlegs (2009) is a fantastic movie from the Safdie Brothers and the beginning of their excellent dynamic as co-writers and directors.

Go Get Some Rosemary (also titled as 'Daddy Longlegs') is a truly great film. It pulls no punches and shows the mark of some truly great up and coming filmmakers in their earlier days. It also features a wonderful and memorable performance from Ronald Bronstein, who also co-wrote the film.

Safdie Brothers once again never try to polish their characters or make them likable. They just lets them exist, in this case stumbling through parenthood and poor decisions with a strange kind of honesty. It's not an easy watch, but it's an incredibly genuine one.

A chaotic tenderness that feels both funny and heartbreaking, the kind that only real life can offer.

Daddy Longlegs (2009) Directors: The Safdie Brothers 7/10

From the brothers who will later bring us the phenomenal "Good Time", Low budget handhelds create many laughs and what the f*#$& moments, Bronstein's performance impresses by managing to be appallingly appealing, Irresponsible non-father trying his best with his 2 weeks a year 7 & 9 year old sons, Indeterminate ending to a whirlwind ride leaves one feeling the same way.

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