Shadows on the Wall

Our Son

dir Bill Oliver
scr Peter Nickowitz, Bill Oliver
prd Fernando Loureiro, Eric Binns, Guilherme Coelho, Jennifer 8 Lee, Christopher Lin
with Luke Evans, Billy Porter, Christopher Woodley, Andrew Rannells, Robin Weigert, Phylicia Rashad, Kate Burton, Liza J Bennett, Cassandra Freeman, Emily Donahoe, Alfredo Narciso, Isaac Powell
release US 8.Dec.23,
UK Mar.24 flare
23/US Universal 1h44

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While this drama features a new angle on the usual child custody narrative, its script never achieves the complexity needed to bring the situation to life. It's more like a TV melodrama with conflicts emerging from the formula rather than the situations. Thankfully, the cast rises above this to deliver involving performances that knowingly touch on important issues. So even if it isn't memorable, the film is warm and engaging.

In New York, Nicky (Evans) and Gabriel (Porter) have been married for 13 years. Gabriel gave up acting to raise 8-year-old son Owen (Woodley), and is now struggling to cope with the distant Nicky, so he files for divorce. Nicky is taken aback, but hires a lawyer (Weigert) to gain custody of Owen. As the legal battle turns nasty, Nicky spends a weekend with his family, including his straight-talking mother (Burton) and sister (Donahoe), and Gabriel visits his mother (Rashad) as well. Meanwhile, their lively circle of friends isn't sure which side they should take.

Heightened emotions fill most scenes, with dialog that's sometimes comically arch. But underlying thoughts and feelings are resonant enough to keep us connected with the characters and situations, and we care enough to hope that they are able to plot a positive path forward. Director-cowriter Oliver keeps the film centred tightly on Nicky and Gabriel, which helps maintain the central themes. And there are nice layers of subtext in their relationships with the lively friends and family who fill in the margins of the story. Excellent casting definitely helps here.

Evans and Porter clearly relish these roles, which are more earthy and dramatic than usual for them. This helps make both Nicky and Gabriel easy to identify with as they make mistakes along the way. Both are in pain over this breakup, and are struggling with lingering feelings that mingle with the anger that surges rather sharply. The actors keep the characters sympathetic, revealing internalised thoughts and big emotions. And young newcomer Woodley has terrific presence as Owen, offering some strong moments of his own.

There are quite a few intriguing details and plot wrinkles along the way, but everything feels as if it was deliberately placed in the script rather than emerging organically from what is happening. This lack of a connection to real life leaves the film feeling almost academic, even though it continually brings enormous emotions to the forefront. That said, tenderness and earnestness infuses the entire project, ultimately winning us over.

themes, language 20.Mar.24 flare

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