Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors in Hollywood have created a legacy as strong as John C. Reilly. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Reilly has proven to be a beloved icon. Whether it’s brave space scavengers, frustrated fathers or performers in theatres, Reilly has played several larger than life characters. Arguably, Reilly’s best strength as an actor has always been his commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has always had the talent for stealing the show in supporting roles that have limited screen time. Even when he isn’t the main focus of a movie, Reilly has often left a strong impression. By his abilities to portray characters that prove to be compelling, Reilly has built a legacy which has been lasting. An actor with strong commitment to his craft, Reilly has become a beloved icon in entertainment. Throughout his bold career, Reilly has made many unforgettable films that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Reilly has adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is my favourite. Released in 2011, Lynne Ramsay’s film offered a strong adaptation of an iconic book about teenagers. Packed with stunning production, engrossing storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best movies ever made about teenagers. At a centre of it all is an incredible performance by John C. Reilly, who portrays the troubled father of a teenager experiencing tragedy. Ultimately, what makes “We Need to Talk About Kevin” a commemorated masterpiece is its appeal. Unlike most movies about teenagers, it tackles strong themes that everyone will relate to. A riveting masterpiece about troubled teenagers, there are countless reasons why “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is worth seeing.
Based on the beloved book, “We Need to Talk About Kevin” tells the story of a troubled teen in a dysfunctional family. Tilda Swinton plays Eva, a troubled woman struggling to raise her tormented son. Assisted by her compassionate husband Franklin (John C. Reilly), Eva has had no troubles taking care of her family. However, Eva’s life drastically changes when her toddler grows up to become a dysfunctional teenager. Kevin (Ezra Miller) is a psychotic teenager that has murderous intentions causing his family to face disaster. As all the odds become stacked against her favour, Eva soon begins to wonder whether it’s possible for her to raise a troubled teenager. Faced with dilemma, Eva questions her abilities to raise a troubled teenager which faces trauma. Seeking therapy, Eva questions her devotion to a broken family that is doomed to face tragedy.
Lynne Ramsay is fascinated with the stories of dysfunctional families. A phenomenal Scottish filmmaker, Ramsay has often made engaging movies about broken families that experience disaster. With “We Need to Talk About Kevin”, however, Ramsay made her first psychological thriller. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a celebrated book about troubled teens, but she succeeded. Inspired by Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty”, Ramsay effectively utilizes point of view shots to capture hardships that broken families go through. For instance, POV shots enhance the families argument scene. During this unforgettable scene, Eva has tense arguments with her son causing tension. Using point of view shots, Ramsay created a portrait of broken families which is compelling. Point of view shots are tricky techniques to often use. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” did demonstrate clearly, POV shots enhance films about loss. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Ramsay captives tension that mothers in dysfunctional families are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “We Need to Talk About Kevin” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is highly well-made. Inspired with John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club”, Ramsay deftly uses costumes to capture tensions tormented teenager are enduring. Throughout the movie, Kevin’s clothes showcase his transformations into a troubled teenager that’s disturbed. For instance, costumes enhance the killing scene. During this haunting scene, Kevin commits a gruesome murder which leaves his family in a state of shock. Through captivating costumes, Ramsay creates a portrait of teenagers that’s compelling. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Jonny Greenwood’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that teenagers are facing. Through captivating set-design, Ramsay conveys teenagers facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the central reasons why “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is a film about teenagers that’s compelling. The film is highly well-written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture the lives of teenagers which are affected by violence. Inspired with Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, Ramsay effectively uses silence to capture the tensions faced by teenagers. For instance, the silence enhances the families’ farewell scene. During this unforgettable scene, Kevin has a tense confrontation with his parents bidding farewells towards them. Using silence, Ramsay creates strong teenagers that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in films. As Stephen Daldry’s “The Hours” demonstrated, silence enhances movies about depressed writers. Through a bold screenplay, Ramsay captures the lives of teenagers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
John C. Reilly delivers one of his best career performances as Franklin. Reilly first earned appreciation for portraying police officers in crime movies. With “We Need to Talk About Kevin”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray the father of a troubled teenager enduring adversity but he succeeded. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charming and emotional in his most memorable role. Reilly has often excelled at playing emotional men under pressure, and “We Need to Talk About Kevin” showcased his strengths as an actor. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, desperation and grief of a tormented father facing tensions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors working today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for John C. Reilly, the supporting cast is stellar and worthy of appreciations. Tilda Swinton is terrific, capturing charisma of a woman that struggles to raise broken family experiencing trauma. Ezra Miller is extraordinary, bringing heartfelt emotion to a troubled teenager that engages in a criminal lifestyle causing life to face disaster. Lastly, Jasper Newell deserves appreciation. As a bold psychiatrist, he brings wisdom to the movie.
Finally, “We Need to Talk About Kevin” would earn appreciations of everyone for capturing troubled teenagers facing adversities. Unlike most movies about teens, the film discusses strong themes everyone would relate to. The movie tackles powerful themes such as angst, parenting and trauma which would absolutely resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with the beloved book to recognize it. It delivers a meaningful message regarding childhood trauma which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is one of those rare commemorated movies about teens everyone would adore.
Fans of John C. Reilly will definitely appreciate. “We Need to Talk About Kevin” and so would movie-goers seeking enjoyable entertainment. A powerful drama, it honours an iconic actor with charisma.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking. film about a troubled teenager committing gruesome murder in dysfunctional families facing disaster, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor that has built a lasting legacy by portraying compelling characters in memorable movies which audiences treasure.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 