lgordonsswc

Like most films, this one has a male voice. It certainly doesn't meet the Bechdel Test, which isn't the only criteria for judging a film, of course, but that said, given that every human on earth came out of a woman, it just doesn't work to have a film where women (and only a couple of them at that) are only there as a backdrop, to be pretty and support men with their cooking, kisses, and adoration. Real life is full of women; they are everywhere, doing everything (over half the population is female) so a purportedly inspirational film, where men reach their full potential, with no women in sight is so unrealistic as to be ludicrous. Where are the mothers, grandmothers, sisters? Even Hitler had a wife. I kept thinking during the film, that George Clooney must have been embarrassed for his accomplished wife to see this movie, in which no woman has a significant role. It must have been very exciting in real life, but it was forgettable as a film.

Seriously, there is nothing to redeem this movie. It is not healthy to forgive parents or partners who operate on this level of toxicity. I actually think this film borders on dangerous on its portrayal of this father/son relationship as well as the father's relationship with his own girlfriend. The amount damage this father inflicts on his son and others before he "learns his lesson" is way over the top. His choices could have literally caused his son's death more than once but he keeps going on and on in his deceptions, hurting everyone in his path. Yet we're supposed to believe he's worth it.