nbthalia
Although this film is in many ways excellent both from acting and cinematography, it relies quite heavily on a few improbabilities that initially do not distract from your enjoyment. In retrospect however you can't help thinking, woah how did that happen? An escaped ex-con accosts a woman and gently but firmly persuades her and her young son to conceal them in her home, to which she agrees, though somewhat reluctantly. Unlikely? Of course it is, but this is a story after all. We are expected to believe that her loneliness and depression override her common sense. Possible, I suppose, I am no psychologist. Gradually the pair begin a relationship. Turns out this guy although an ex-con, is a real nice guy, does helpful jobs around the house, becomes a father figure to her little boy and even shines in bed. He is, in fact the man of her dreams. Of course, the law eventually catches up with him after various peripheral characters, plus an infuriatingly nosey cop, put two and two together. Result: Mister Nice Guy is banged up for another long stretch in the pen. The final rather unlikely situation: The woman waits for an eternity for his sentence to end and they are reunited in a sentimental final scene. And guess what? He is even more handsome and rugged-looking than he was before, despite being many years older. So, yes a very good and involving film, despite these minor cracks, rather than holes, in the plot.
mokhatib
A single mom Adele (Winslet) with son Henry are forced to harbor a fugitive Frank (Brolin) at theirown home. An unexpected relationship develops among the three. A beautiful story with a great cast including the super talented Gattlin Griffith as Henry. A very sensual, delicate, and rather natural direction on the hands of Jason Reitman (Up in the Air, Juno). Jason scripted this movie based on the novel by Joyce Maynard. Jason did a terrific job in interpreting Adele's yearning for male attention and care, in brief a man around the house in every aspect, especially in the scene where Frank wraps his arm around her waist and when we see her face turning towards him, I and I am sure a lot of the audience expected a kiss but what do you know…Winslet beautifully and vulnerably lays her face on his shoulder….. absolutely mesmerizing!Another scene stands out for me how Reitman plays down and tones down the sexual relationship between Frank and Adele by suggestive scenes for example, when Henry does not find Frank on the couch where he was usually sleeps but hears him in his mom's bedroom and another scene where he opens the bathroom door to find her brushing her teeth with her under gown on with Frank there with her, but then in the movie's most vulnerable scene, we just get a single passionate kiss between Frank and Adele. I loved the use of sunlight throughout the movie right about when Frank arrives at Adel and Henry's house and starts affecting and impacting their lives, which to me is rather symbolic for light of hope that is shed on them, a second chance for a normal and loving family life, for them and for Frank as well, clearly evident in the final scenes when upon telling him about her problematic pregnancy life , she tells him:" I can't give you a family.", he replies: " you have". I loved the clash of two unfortunate characters who lost love and regained it under the most unfortunate circumstances and their love conquered and endured all times and survived. You got to give praise to how Reitman in script and direction, sprinkled more than four dramatic tension points that could result in the capture of Frank, Henry's rebel girlfriend, Henry's letter to his Dad and mentioning at dinner that there is a man around his house, Bary the mentally handicapped kid who visits them and meets Frank, but the wow factor, is how all these did not play any part in Frank's final capture. Turning my attention to the script and as much as I loved it, a few things bothered me and caughtmy attention as weak and incredible as far as plot and characterization. Starting with Bary's visit and Frank's okay with that, how could a character like Frank who was cold and cautious from the beginning in order to protect himself, let a mentally retarded kid see him? What did he think it was okay? What was he going to say? He turned out rather shouting his name, how contradictory is that? Add to that, Reitman making Bary conveniently watch the news broadcast where for maybe the 20th time they show Frank's young prison pic and for the first time in the movie, they put an adult pic of him next to it, come on how convenient and corny is that? Also keeping with Frank's character motif , why would someone like him on the day he was all alone in the house and knowing from before that Adele's neighbors and friends barge in and pop in unexpectedly not to mention rudely like Bary's mom, and while standing conveniently in direct vision of anyone coming through the main door, leave it unlocked??? Hehe.. Of all the days they could have gathered their stuff and escape to Canada, they picked Henry's first day of school to do it, and where everybody in the movie made a point of it, that's just silly…. Obviously it was added to create dramatic tension and suspense but to a weak effect and result. I will end my comments with the corny ending of the movie, we understand that Frank takes a lot of thecredit for the fine upbringing and how a fine man Henry turned out to be, but it was rather commercialand clichéd for Reitman to actually show us Henry doing exactly the same things Frank taught him, changing a tire while with his girlfriend, cooking and baking a pie for his mom, playing baseball etc… and the corniest of them all, Henry becoming a pie chef and opening a famous restaurant, that ending was just too hollywoody and I imagine every scene that comes after Frank's second arrest is rather made for commercial box office reasons, come on …would you rather have this ending or just maybe see Henry cooking for his mom, and being with his girlfriend? I know your pick.
g-bodyl
Labor Day is a film that may require further meditation. On first glance, the film seems to go nowhere and it may seem like a bland romance, but it's a deeper film than expected and it takes time getting used to the romance. It's nice to see Jason Reitman explore a new theme and set a different tone from his other films, even if the end product results in not being his best film. The characters are worth paying attention to and I really enjoyed the acting and the simple tone of the film. Jason Reitman's film is about a depressed single mother named Adele who lives at home with her teenage son. Their lives change when a man named Frank, a recent prison escapee, enter their lives. With the manhunt increasing tenfold, Frank and Adele begin an unlikely romance. The film works due to the charisma of the two leads. Kate Winslet, who is no stranger to unexpected romances, does a great job as the depressed, nervous Adele who is torn with a dark past. Josh Brolin likewise is excellent as Frank, the commanding but gentle man who may not have committed the crime he is accused of. Overall, Labor Day is a better film that I was expecting. It does have some noticeable flaws. The plot itself got somewhat confusing with the random flashbacks that could use some explaining. I also felt some of the dialog is much more simple than most Reitman films. But I praise Reitman for crafting a interesting, if not tragic romance coming from unexpected situations. It's a different tone and I think he tackled it nicely. I rate this film 8/10.
