Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Steve Martin, Dianne West and Jason Robards
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many filmmakers in Hollywood have made movies which are as treasured as Ron Howard. Ever since his rise towards fame in the 1980’s, Howard has made fantastic movies. Whether it’s astronauts facing dangers, mathematical figures or political leaders, Howard has made movies about powerful characters. Arguably, Howard’s greatest strength as a filmmaker has been versatility. Howard is one of those rare filmmakers that has always excelled making movies in a wide variety of genres. A director with a strong commitment towards his craft, Howard has become a celebrated icon in the world of entertainment. Through his abilities to create movies that are engaging, Howard has created a legacy that’s lasting. Although he is best known for his movies in the biopic genre, Howard has proven that he can make diverse films as an icon of Cinema. Throughout a bold career, Howard has made many strong movies that are definitely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Howard and adore all movies which he has created in his career. However, “Parenthood” is definitely my favourite. Ever since its release in 1989, Ron Howard’s movie has stood the test of time as a coming of age classic. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best movies made about parenting. At the centre of it all is a superb performance by Steve Martin, who embodies a brave parent that’s striving to raise a dysfunctional family. Ultimately, what makes “Parenthood” a classic film is its universal appeal. Unlike most movies about parenting, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a profound message about parenting that would resonate with everyone. A powerful masterpiece about parenting, there are many strong reasons why “Parenthood” is a commemorated movie that’s worth seeing.
“Parenthood” tells the story of a family facing problems that’s misunderstood. Steve Martin portrays Gil Buckman, a frustrated father with that faces family tension. Gil is a devoted dad that has always excelled at taking care of his family that is devastated. Assisted by his wife Karen (Mary Steenburgen), Gil has often had an aptitude caring for his family that endures tension. However, Gil’s life changes when his family faces grave danger that threatens its future. Faced with a dilemma, Gil soon begins to question whether it’s possible to raise a family that experiences trauma in America. Feeling misunderstood, Gil soon discovers the pressures which are imposed by parenthood. Realizing that parenting is challenging, Gil is forced to question whether his goals are worth pursuing.
Ron Howard is a newcomer towards the stories of parenting. Before he crafted “Parenthood”, Howard had never made a films about parents before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of parents seeking to raise a broken family but he succeeded tremendously. Through captivating cinematography, Howard captures a frustrated father struggling to raise a broken American family. Inspired with Robert Benton’s “Kramer vs. Kramer”, Howard utilizes montages capturing the hardship that parents struggling to raise family are often facing. For instance, montages enhance the family party scene. During this unforgettable scene, Gil is put into a stressful situation seeking to care for his children during a party that causes tension. Using captivating montages, Howard captures the tensions that parents struggling to raise a family are facing. Montages are tricky to use in movies. As “Apollo 13” proved, montages often enhance space movies. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Howard captures the struggles parents raising families are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Parenthood” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Howard effectively uses production design to capture the struggle of dysfunctional families that decline. Throughout the film, Gil’s house plays a crucial role in capturing tension families are facing. For instance, production of the house elevates the family argument scene. During this unforgettable scene, Gil faces an intense argument with his family regarding his role as a parent causing tension. Through the use of stunning production, Howard created a strong portrait of parenting that’s compelling. Moreover, the musical score is stellar. James Horner’s music is key to success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that parents seeking to raise families bear. Using strong production, Howard captures struggles of commemorated parents facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the central reasons why “Parenthood” is a film about parenting which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses tragicomedy to capture tensions that dysfunctional families are often enduring. Howard’s greatest strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to blend humour with a serious subject matter. At times, the movie is hilarious particularly in scenes where Gil is struggling to care for his naughty children. However, the film is also serious in its depictions of child abuse. For instance, tragicomedy elevates the secret scene. During this unforgettable scene, Gil is faced with a dilemma when he discovers a shocking secret about his family. Tragicomedy is a tricky technique to use in most movies. As “Hillbilly Elegy” suggested, tragicomedy often elevates movies about suburban families. That being said, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a strong screenplay, Howard captures the lives of parents which experience a painful price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Steve Martin gives one of his greatest career performances as Gil Buckman. Martin earned appreciations for playing comical fathers in family dramas. With “Parenthood”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a frustrated father struggling to raise his family but he succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: intense, charismatic and funny in his most iconic role. Martin has always been a commemorated actor with a sharp sense of humour, and “Parenthood” showcased his strengths as an actor. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and grief of a commemorated parent struggling to face a family experiencing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated comedians working in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a strong showcase for Steve Martin, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of appreciation. Mary Steenburgen is marvellous, capturing strong dedication of a mother struggling to raise a dysfunctional family that experiences tension. Joaquin Phoenix is phenomenal, bringing an air of authority to a rebellious teenager that faces mean obstacles affecting his abilities to be seen. Lastly, Dianne West deserves praise. As a woman in a broken marriage, she brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Parenthood” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing the lives of parents that are misunderstood. Unlike most movie about parenting, the film tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses powerful themes including identity, grief and family that would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with commemorated parenting rules to appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message about the pressures of parenting which would definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Parenthood” is one of those rare commemorated films about parenting everyone would adore.
Fans of Ron Howard will definitely appreciate “Parenthood” and so will movie-goers which seek heartfelt entertainment. A heartfelt film about parenting, it honours a filmmaker that has built a legacy which is enduring.
Nearly 50 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about fathers struggling to cope with the pressures of parenthood, it’s a powerful reminder about a commemorated filmmaker that has always thrived at making unforgettable movies about misunderstood characters that has stood the test of time as an icon in Hollywood.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 