LION (2016)

2/2/2017 - Lion (2016) - 7/10

Keenly gratifying and expertly crafted, Lion is a deeply touching real life story of the pangs of love & loss that works. This is a film of passion and sentiment. The emotional meal stews, ripens, and is then served, garnished with tremendous camera work, for a fulfilling and exquisite meal. Not quite otherworldly in any element, but it has few impeachable shortcomings and delivers a rousing cinematic experience, leaving no tear duct unsapped.

The little boy in this film is so damn cute and does a great job of being adorable and heavily invested/forlorn. He doesn’t do anything extraordinary, but accomplishes each of his acting tasks well.

The relentless depression of the underbelly of Calcutta is so prominent and inescapable. It bleeds through the celluloid into the space in which you are watching. That is a good job by the filmmakers.

Kidman is wonderful and does a smashing job, bringing the affection and sincerity from her eyes to the viewers’ hearts. Every one of her scenes is an apotheosis (okay, that may be hyperbole, but she was REALLY good.) Patel also keeps the film on firm footing, nailing his beats and driving our compassion.

Terrific music, such smart and scope serving editing, with a strong directorial vision. An adroit blend of time periods, places, and people into an extraordinary vision. Both moving and visually enticing. Again, it lacks in “next level” particulars, but this is a wonderful film none-the-less.