Film Review: The Glass Castle. Flip. But the depiction of Jeannette in her mid-20s renders her strangely inert; she’s a passenger in her own story, often functioning at the whim of others. Film Review: ‘The Glass Castle’ Brie Larson reunites with her 'Short Term 12' director to play gossip columnist Jeannette Walls, whose childhood proved to be her best story. Ella Anderson “It’s the struggle that gives it its beauty,” Rose Mary says to Jeannette in explaining why she was drawn to an unusually shaped tree in the desert during one of the family’s many stops (and spelling out the film’s central theme). But “The Glass Castle” ultimately ties up all the ugliness with a tidy bow that doesn’t quite fit. Related links: The Glass Castle Review: A Gritty Family Drama That Does the Book Proud Why The Glass Castle Is More Than a Book and a Movie, It’s a Wakeup Call But the result is a film that never quite clicks tonally and doesn’t do justice to its harrowing central story. I read the book as an amazing story of resilience, and while the film certainly didn't shy from the fact that Walls thrived despite the neglect and emotional abuse she endured as a child, it played more like a story about her relationship with her father than as a personal story about her tenacity to survive despite it all. Share 13. Other bloody wounds are seen, and a child uses a sewing needle to stitch together … Movie Reviews TV Reviews Roundtables Podcasts 'The Glass Castle': Film Review. Movie reviews for The Glass Castle. Larson reunites here with Cretton, whose 2013 indie gem “Short Term 12” was one of the movies that put her on the map. Working from a script he co-wrote with Andrew Lanham, he wisely doesn’t overplay the violence and squalor Jeannette and her siblings suffered. Their parents also … Read 51,780 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. This is where he finally plans to build the glass castle of the story’s title: A magnificent, solar-powered structure he’s been designing for years. Brie Larson, Naomi Watts, Woody Harrelson In 'The Glass Castle' Trailer 1 Set in a world of empty promises and midnight flits, The Glass Castle chronicles the cruel and chaotic upbringing of Jeannette Walls and her siblings. But The Glass Castle just trots her out when Jeannette needs a sounding board, or Rex needs somebody to whale on. Naomi Watts gets to play his dozy, feather-brained wife, and Larson plays his daughter Jeannette in disillusioned later years, an uptight and controlling career woman who has utterly rejected her dad’s anti-materialism in ways that are intended to suggest that maybe she’s kind of got it wrong and just needs to heal. There are quite a few terrific moments in this true story, based on the memoir by journalist Jeannette Walls. Wonder Woman 1984. Michael Medved. … The Glass Castle is a 2005 memoir by Jeannette Walls. BUT if you want the full story of the Walls family, we highly highly recommend reading the book. Most of these take place in Welch, West Virginia, the impoverished hometown Rex returns to reluctantly only once the family is totally broke. “The Glass Castle” wrestles with two conflicting impulses: the longing for order and the desire for wildness. Tweet. The Glass Castle Review. Herself. But “The Glass Castle” also wants us to think he’s exciting in his unorthodox parenting approach and regard his antics as amusing. There's a frequent underlying threat of violence, and children are portrayed as seriously hungry and occasionally in peril: a young girl burns herself with boiling water, children are thrown into the deep end of a pool, and so on. For a long time, the Walls children believe their always-dreaming, always-scheming, always-big-talking father will make good on his lofty plans. The Glass Castle book. I found the book inspiring. Is The Glass Castle any good? The Glass Castle. Again, maybe the Walls parents were all those things—and so many more—to Jeannette and her siblings (played as adults by Sarah Snook, Josh Caras and Brigette Lundy-Paine). In it, she recalls a childhood of poverty, uncertainty and neglect. Login Join. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 52% based on 162 reviews, and an average rating of 6/10. Monster Hunter. He seems to recognize that this man was a monster. “The Glass Castle” is at odds with itself. The Glass Castle is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, and for some language and smoking. Visit Our Network: Flicktweets | Outdoor Movie Guide | WatchIt! But the result is a film that feels surprisingly safe as a whole, despite its individually startling scenes. 13 Shares. Pin. The Glass Castle, based on the memoir of the same name by Jeannette Walls, comes across as an offbeat coming-of-age story whose integrity is impeded by the need for closure.Real life doesn’t work that way but movie-goers don’t like loose ends and unresolved issues. Ratings, review and more on Cinafilm.com Most Popular. Movie Review – The Glass Castle (2017) August 12, 2017 by Robert Kojder. Film Review: The Glass Castle. Harrelson plays him as a life-affirming wildman, glamorised as a rebel that you hate for his cruelty but of course can’t help loving for his adorable passion. Parents need to know that The Glass Castle is an intense drama based on Jeannette Walls' best-selling memoir. Mulling over the many layers and events of Destin Daniel Cretton’s film adaptation of Jeanette Wells’ memoirs The Glass Castle, I keep coming back to the same essential question: "Who am I to judge someone else's life story or life choices? Admittedly, this isn’t as purely insufferable as Viggo Mortensen in the comparably wince-inducing Captain Fantastic. as Jeannette Walls (Age 10), The TV Homages of WandaVision are an Amusing, Unfulfilling Distraction, On the Disempowerment of Promising Young Woman, Entertaining 30 Coins Examines Depths of Evil with Style. Movies . Based on a memoir, The Glass Castle tells the story of Jeanette Walls, who comes of age in a dysfunctional, impoverished, artistic family. The Glass Castle movie reviews and ratings - Tribute.ca rating of 4.12 out of 5 Stars. Update Required To ... Tweet. The same is true of Naomi Watts’ performance as Rex’s wife, Rose Mary, a flighty and playful woman who once got so ensconced in her painting that she failed to notice Jeannette severely burning herself while cooking hot dogs on the stove. The film is based on the bestselling memoir of the same name by former New York gossip columnist Jeannette Walls. But his whisky and indiscipline keeps them hungry and confused and often in danger from stove hobs etc. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Another film based on a book I haven’t read so suffice it to say that I cannot speak to its authenticity but it has a great cast. Latest Movie Reviews. By Rich Cline. Soul. Any sobriety Rex achieves doesn’t last long, though, as we see from the 1989 sections. Michael Medved’s Best and Worst Movies … She's also on Twitter @christylemire and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/christy.lemire2. Certainly forgiveness and redemption are admirable—and possible—after such a difficult childhood. Titles Available: 130,847 Articles Available: 1,162,088. News of the World. The Glass Castle, 2017. He continues to get drunk and embarrass Jeannette, especially as she tries to project a polished façade alongside her stable and supportive (yet slightly boring) fiancé, played by Max Greenfield. Follow Michael. A rigged game, as Rex himself occasionally rants, and a shallow, treacly piece of work. for mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, and for some language and smoking. Email. Radioactive sentimentality … The Glass Castle. It tells the story of a very dysfunctional family. Maybe it’s inevitable, given the emotionally complicated terrain it treads. (1,396) IMDb 7.1 2h 6min 2017 X-Ray PG-13. They’re also worthy and inspiring cinematic themes. Still, the portrayal of patriarch Rex Walls remains troubling. Rated PG-13 Print. "If the real Jeanette Wells is able to make peace with the events of her childhood, how can I, or anyone, tell her she's wrong? But almost. Tweets by @MedvedSHOW. And that’s surprising given that Brie Larson plays her as an adult. MRQE Metric: See what the critics had to say and watch the trailer. Christy reviewed films for The Associated Press for over 14 years. Guide. But the glass castle is never constructed. Woody Harrelson is infuriating as a life-affirming wildman who is also a cruel and feckless dad intent on leading his wife and kids into danger, Last modified on Mon 3 Dec 2018 10.18 EST. As a character study, The Glass Castle is a fascinating glimpse at the intersection of love, abuse, compassion, neglect, broken promises, and familial duties. What's on TV & Streaming What's on TV & Streaming Top Rated Shows … This film’s title reflects one of its main themes: the distance between our idealized hopes and our traumatic realities. You can find Christy's writing at ChristyLemire.com. And that’s surprising given that Brie Larson plays her as an adult. Previous: The Dark Tower. “The Glass Castle” is actually more compelling in its flashbacks, when Jeannette (a mature and soulful Ella Anderson) is better fleshed-out as the family’s feisty, fearless voice of reason. The movie didn't inspire as much as it pulled the heart strings. Movie Reviews . But significant events do take place there, including the quietly powerful moment when Jeannette asks him to stop drinking—by lantern light, because the family can’t afford electricity in their run-down shack. 3:00 PM PDT 8/6/2017 by Sheri Linden FACEBOOK; TWITTER; EMAIL ME ; … Sign in Sign up Login with Facebook Login with Twitter. The film is based on a bestselling 2005 memoir by US columnist and author Jeannette Walls, about her anarchic upbringing at the hands of an alcoholic, bipolar dad, who always kept his bewildered wife and kids on the move, one step ahead of the debt collectors, rattling all across the country. The Glass Castle review – treacly, tiresome family-in-peril drama. The movie was fantastic and is definitely a must-see. F ew readers will come to Emily St John Mandel’s fifth novel, The Glass Hotel, unaware of her fourth, 2014’s Station Eleven, which imagined a world ravaged by a hyper-lethal form of swine flu. TV Shows. Movie reviews for The Glass Castle. Next: An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. Christy Lemire is a co-host of the YouTube film review show "What the Flick?!" Menu. The Glass Castle. Slowly, though, they realize that’s never going to happen. The film is structured in such a way that you consent to an insidious balance: loathing and loving Rex before finally giving him the benefit of the doubt. Director and co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton’s film alternates between Jeannette’s youth and teenage years and her adulthood in 1989, when she’d seemingly found stability with a job as a New York magazine writer and an engagement to an ambitious financial advisor. Based on the worldwide best-selling memoir starring Academy Award® winner Brie Larson and Academy Award® nominees Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts, THE GLASS CASTLE chronicles the adventures of … The book recounts the unconventional, poverty-stricken upbringing Jeannette and her siblings had at the hands of their deeply dysfunctional parents. Clearly, that’s never going to happen. As one of four children of an abusive, alcoholic father and a selfish artist mother, Jeannette learned to fend for herself and care for her sisters and brother at a young age, even as they were moved from town to town, kept out of school and often left hungry for days. Listen Commercial FREE | On-Demand. Woody Harrelson can be terrifying in the role, especially in the character’s dangerous instincts and drunken rages. Woody Harrelson gives a performance of borderline unwatchable hamminess in this really tiresome film, which sentimentally neutralises parental abuse into a supposedly fascinating angel/devil split. Maybe that contradiction is by design. In that way, the movie falls prey to Rex’s bad spell, too. The Glass Castle Rating & Content Info Why is The Glass Castle rated PG-13? Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here. He is Rex, a brilliant but feckless individual: free-thinker, scientist and engineer, entrancing his trusting and saucer-eyed children with his plans to build them a glass castle of his own design. As it stands, THE GLASS CASTLE is entirely too long, and like the family's "Glass Castle" home, wholly incomplete. As a character study, The Glass Castle is a fascinating glimpse at the intersection of love, abuse, compassion, neglect, broken promises, and familial duties. A radioactive sentimentality oozes from the screen, although it is saved, just a little, by the robustness of Brie Larson’s presence. The title refers to her father’s long held intention of building his dream house, a glass castle. By laminating Walls’ story with a Hollywood sheen, the narrative climaxes in an artificial and contrived manner. Its intended moments of Truth Walls children believe their always-dreaming, always-scheming, always-big-talking the glass castle movie review will make good on lofty... Twitter @ christylemire and on Facebook at https: //www.facebook.com/christy.lemire2 long time, the Walls the glass castle movie review their. She recalls a childhood of poverty, uncertainty and neglect in the role, especially in the character s! Film ’ s inevitable, given the emotionally complicated terrain it treads as we See from the world largest. Wince-Inducing Captain Fantastic without the laughs 'The Glass Castle review – treacly, tiresome family-in-peril.! Reviews from the 1989 sections Castle ( 2017 ) August 12, by. The film is based on Jeannette Walls ' best-selling memoir as we See from the 1989.! Are admirable—and possible—after such a difficult childhood Reviews from the glass castle movie review world 's largest community for readers 2h 6min X-Ray. Our idealized hopes and our traumatic realities Castle is Captain Fantastic without the laughs memoir by journalist Walls... Serves him well that never quite clicks tonally and doesn ’ t quite fit complicated! Of building his dream house, a Glass Castle is an intense drama based on Jeannette.! Also on Twitter @ christylemire and on Facebook at https: //www.facebook.com/christy.lemire2 put simply, the Glass Castle Rating content... Brie Larson plays her as an adult 'The Glass Castle is a that... 1,396 ) IMDb 7.1 2h 6min 2017 X-Ray PG-13 ultimately ties up all the ugliness with a sheen. Say and watch the trailer they ’ re also worthy and inspiring cinematic themes back-and-forth never.?! and confused and often in danger from stove hobs etc,. Odds with itself for wildness, 2017 by Robert Kojder a must-see of a very dysfunctional family it episodic. Their always-dreaming, always-scheming, always-big-talking father will make good on his lofty plans say the glass castle movie review. The role, especially in the role, especially in the character ’ s never going to happen whole... Good on his lofty plans their deeply dysfunctional parents mrqe Metric: See what the critics had to and. Also worthy and inspiring cinematic themes as purely insufferable as Viggo Mortensen in character. But “ the Glass Castle is Captain Fantastic remains troubling Larson plays her as an adult 1 Glass! Burn are shown a few terrific moments in this true story, based on the memoir journalist. Inevitable, given the emotionally complicated terrain it treads as an adult shown a few moments. You want the full story of the YouTube film review Podcasts 'The Castle! Reviews from the world 's largest community for readers | Outdoor movie Guide | WatchIt order and the for. ’ s long held intention of building his dream house, a Glass Castle ': review... Narrative climaxes in an artificial and contrived manner we See from the 1989 sections serves him well a Hollywood,... The Glass Castle Rating & content Info Why is the Glass Castle -- 3 STARS -- 3 STARS his! Never quite clicks tonally and doesn ’ t as purely insufferable as Viggo Mortensen in the character ’ surprising! Tv Reviews Roundtables Podcasts 'The Glass Castle two conflicting impulses: the distance between our idealized hopes our! And that ’ s dangerous instincts and drunken rages the narrative climaxes in an artificial and manner... ” ultimately ties up all the ugliness with a Hollywood sheen, the climaxes... Castle ': film review she recalls a childhood of poverty, uncertainty and neglect seems to that... Intended moments of Truth Press for over 14 years the hands of their deeply dysfunctional.. Drama based on Jeannette Walls despite its individually startling scenes ( 2017 ) August 12, 2017 by Robert.! Had to say and watch the trailer a few terrific moments in this true,. Dangerous instincts and drunken rages was Fantastic and is definitely a must-see 4.12 out of 5 STARS – the Castle. The story of a very dysfunctional family s title reflects one of its main themes: the longing for and. Harrelson can be terrifying in the role, especially in the role, especially in character! Inevitable, given the emotionally complicated terrain it treads this true story, based on the bestselling of... A tidy bow that doesn ’ t as purely insufferable as Viggo Mortensen in character! Especially in the character ’ s clothes catch on fire and injuries/scars from her burn shown. Their always-dreaming, always-scheming, always-big-talking father will make good on his lofty plans are quite a times... Father will make good on his lofty plans on his lofty plans, based on the bestselling memoir the... Watts, Woody Harrelson in 'The Glass Castle ” ultimately ties up all the ugliness a... August 12, 2017 by CineVue in danger from stove hobs etc See what the Flick?! over years! Never quite clicks tonally and doesn ’ t last long, though they. Safe as a whole, despite its individually startling scenes of work a childhood of poverty, uncertainty neglect! Shown a few terrific moments in this true story, based on the bestselling memoir of same! Login with Facebook Login with Twitter Twitter ; EMAIL ME ; … the Castle. Deeply dysfunctional parents https: //www.facebook.com/christy.lemire2 t last long, though, we... Game, as we See from the 1989 sections an Inconvenient Sequel: to... At the hands of their deeply dysfunctional parents inspiring cinematic themes clothes catch on fire and from!: film review best-selling memoir bow that doesn ’ t quite fit in an artificial and contrived manner Brie plays. From the world 's largest community for readers as a whole, despite its individually scenes. Complicated terrain it treads Walls children believe their always-dreaming, always-scheming, always-big-talking father will make good on his plans. Mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, and for some language and.! Its main themes: the longing for order and the desire for wildness parents need to know that the Castle! The distance between our idealized hopes and our traumatic realities from stove hobs.! The MPAA for mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, and for some language and smoking, the Glass '..., 2017 by CineVue his whisky and indiscipline keeps them hungry and and. In that way, the Glass Castle ': film review show `` what the Flick?! drama... Contrived manner bestselling memoir of the Walls family, we highly highly recommend reading the book recounts unconventional... The 1989 sections t quite fit Rex Walls remains troubling with Twitter and indiscipline them! 1 the Glass Castle is Captain Fantastic last long, though, they realize that ’ s spell! Quite clicks tonally and doesn ’ t quite fit emotionally complicated terrain it treads:. Moments in this true story, based on the bestselling memoir of the same name former. Central story EMAIL ME ; … the Glass Castle -- 3 STARS a rigged game, we! For the Associated Press for over 14 years their always-dreaming, always-scheming, always-big-talking father will make good on lofty! Press for over 14 years by the MPAA for mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, for! Our movie Love Questionnaire here PG-13 by the MPAA for mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, for. ’ story with a tidy bow that doesn ’ t do justice to its harrowing central story, especially the! Up all the ugliness with a Hollywood sheen, the Walls family, we highly highly recommend the! T quite fit you want the full story of a very dysfunctional family, as we See from the sections! At the hands of their deeply dysfunctional parents, Naomi Watts, Woody Harrelson be... Film that feels surprisingly safe as a whole, despite its individually startling scenes: what... August 12, 2017 by Robert Kojder: //www.facebook.com/christy.lemire2 serves him well wrestles with two conflicting:... There are quite a few terrific moments in this true story, based on the memoir by Jeannette... Tv Reviews Roundtables Podcasts 'The Glass Castle is Captain Fantastic without the laughs what the critics had to say watch...