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James White, 2015
James White (Christopher Abbott) is a twenty-something man with a drinking problem who we first meet mourning the recent death of his mostly absentee father. James convinces his mother, Gail (Cynthia Nixon) to sponsor him on a vacation to Mexico so that he can "process". But during his vacation Gail summons James back to New York---her cancer has returned and she has to go into another round of treatment. James does not deal well with this news, and even his best friend Nick (Kid Cudi) and his girlfriend, the high school age Jayne (Makenzie Leigh) can't keep him under control.
This is a well-observed, slice of life film that takes a stark look at the way that a trauma or challenging event can impact someone with a mental health issue or an addiction. It's a oft-seen trope that tough times really teach someone to clarify their priorities and get their life together. But the reality for many people is that a dying loved one does not cure alcoholism, and that stress and anger are not emotions that often lead to positive life changes.
Christopher Abbott has quickly become someone I get excited to see on screen. I really liked his performances in both Sweet Virginia and Possessor, and he does a great job here as well. James is a character who wants a solid life--a job, money, a girlfriend--but is fundamentally unwilling or unable to put in the work on himself to make it happen. With his mother dying, his last unquestioning support system is going away and he can't handle it.
The movie does a great job of simply observing James, which is wise because he is for the most part a pretty unsympathetic character. Frequently drunk, getting drunk, or hungover, he's the kind of person who will show up to a job interview in dirty clothing smelling of alcohol and then act baffled when told he's being unprofessional. He also, you know, seduces a teenager (who is often more mature than he is and seems to realize her mistake yet is not able to cut ties with him). His best friend is the kind of person who clearly cares about him, but makes horrible mistakes himself and doesn't do much to pull James out of the fire. Whether James is in this situation because of choices he's made, because of the way his parents raised him, or because of some underlying addiction/mental health reasons, you can at least realize that this is a person in pain whose life is probably only going to get worse.
Nixon is a strong supporting character as a mother who, facing her own mortality, must also worry about the child she's leaving behind. At this point, it is too late for her to course correct. She wants to allow James to be part of her care and her final days, but he is irresponsible and unreliable and she is losing her own mental and emotional capabilities.
This is a very well acted character study and I'd highly recommend it.
James White, 2015
James White (Christopher Abbott) is a twenty-something man with a drinking problem who we first meet mourning the recent death of his mostly absentee father. James convinces his mother, Gail (Cynthia Nixon) to sponsor him on a vacation to Mexico so that he can "process". But during his vacation Gail summons James back to New York---her cancer has returned and she has to go into another round of treatment. James does not deal well with this news, and even his best friend Nick (Kid Cudi) and his girlfriend, the high school age Jayne (Makenzie Leigh) can't keep him under control.
This is a well-observed, slice of life film that takes a stark look at the way that a trauma or challenging event can impact someone with a mental health issue or an addiction. It's a oft-seen trope that tough times really teach someone to clarify their priorities and get their life together. But the reality for many people is that a dying loved one does not cure alcoholism, and that stress and anger are not emotions that often lead to positive life changes.
Christopher Abbott has quickly become someone I get excited to see on screen. I really liked his performances in both Sweet Virginia and Possessor, and he does a great job here as well. James is a character who wants a solid life--a job, money, a girlfriend--but is fundamentally unwilling or unable to put in the work on himself to make it happen. With his mother dying, his last unquestioning support system is going away and he can't handle it.
The movie does a great job of simply observing James, which is wise because he is for the most part a pretty unsympathetic character. Frequently drunk, getting drunk, or hungover, he's the kind of person who will show up to a job interview in dirty clothing smelling of alcohol and then act baffled when told he's being unprofessional. He also, you know, seduces a teenager (who is often more mature than he is and seems to realize her mistake yet is not able to cut ties with him). His best friend is the kind of person who clearly cares about him, but makes horrible mistakes himself and doesn't do much to pull James out of the fire. Whether James is in this situation because of choices he's made, because of the way his parents raised him, or because of some underlying addiction/mental health reasons, you can at least realize that this is a person in pain whose life is probably only going to get worse.
Nixon is a strong supporting character as a mother who, facing her own mortality, must also worry about the child she's leaving behind. At this point, it is too late for her to course correct. She wants to allow James to be part of her care and her final days, but he is irresponsible and unreliable and she is losing her own mental and emotional capabilities.
This is a very well acted character study and I'd highly recommend it.