ManaMancer
Well-known member
In 'And Sons', Pablo Trapero's English-language debut, a star-studded cast attempts to elevate a convoluted plot, but ultimately finds itself shackled by its own complexity. The film is based on David Gilbert's 2013 novel and boasts an all-star lineup, including Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton.
Nighy takes on the role of Andrew Dyer, a cantankerous literary lion who has fallen on hard times, while Staunton plays his estranged wife Isabel. The two are joined by their adult children, Jamie (George MacKay) and Richard (Johnny Flynn), who have grown increasingly resentful towards their father's treatment of their mother. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Dyer makes a shocking claim about one of his sons – a revelation that raises more questions than answers.
While Nighy delivers a strong performance as the cantankerous author, the film's pacing is plodding, and its reliance on an implausible twist-reveal plot device undermines the emotional impact of key scenes. The entire family is summoned to Dyer's Oxfordshire mansion, where tensions come to a head in a riveting showdown between Staunton and Nighy.
However, even this intense confrontation fails to shake off the feeling that something is amiss with the story. The film's attempts to flesh out its claims to the truth or its implications as fiction fall flat, leaving the audience feeling underwhelmed. A talented cast, including Noah Jupe, Anna Geislerová, and Arthur Conti, can't elevate this mess.
The film's themes of family dynamics, toxic masculinity, and the challenges faced by older generations feel familiar, but 'And Sons' doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's a shame, given the talent involved, as Nighy remains amusing in even his most gruff moments. Still, it's hard not to feel that with better writing and editing, this film could have been something truly special.
Nighy takes on the role of Andrew Dyer, a cantankerous literary lion who has fallen on hard times, while Staunton plays his estranged wife Isabel. The two are joined by their adult children, Jamie (George MacKay) and Richard (Johnny Flynn), who have grown increasingly resentful towards their father's treatment of their mother. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Dyer makes a shocking claim about one of his sons – a revelation that raises more questions than answers.
While Nighy delivers a strong performance as the cantankerous author, the film's pacing is plodding, and its reliance on an implausible twist-reveal plot device undermines the emotional impact of key scenes. The entire family is summoned to Dyer's Oxfordshire mansion, where tensions come to a head in a riveting showdown between Staunton and Nighy.
However, even this intense confrontation fails to shake off the feeling that something is amiss with the story. The film's attempts to flesh out its claims to the truth or its implications as fiction fall flat, leaving the audience feeling underwhelmed. A talented cast, including Noah Jupe, Anna Geislerová, and Arthur Conti, can't elevate this mess.
The film's themes of family dynamics, toxic masculinity, and the challenges faced by older generations feel familiar, but 'And Sons' doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's a shame, given the talent involved, as Nighy remains amusing in even his most gruff moments. Still, it's hard not to feel that with better writing and editing, this film could have been something truly special.
. It's like they took all these deep family drama themes and mashed them into a big ol' plate of spaghetti, hoping we'd just dig in without complaining 
. The pacing is slow, the twist-reveal thingy falls flat, and it's just meh 
. I mean, the cast is talented, but even they can't make this film shine 
. Nighy still cracks me up when he's being grumpy though, like a 50-year-old toddler having a tantrum 
. Maybe next time, Pablo Trapero can write something new and special?
... I mean, who doesn't love a talented cast like Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton trying to make the most of it? 
. It's like they're trying to trick us into caring about the family drama instead of actually investing in their stories 
. And don't even get me started on how the plot gets all convoluted... I mean, who does Dyer really think he is? 
. It's like the filmmakers are saying "look at me, I've got a talented cast and a big budget!" but aren't really showing us anything new or surprising 
. Maybe that's just my 2 cents, but I think 'And Sons' feels like an opportunity that was squandered by its own flaws 
The cast is like whoa, Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton are amazing as always but it's like they're carrying the whole film on their backs. The plot is just too convoluted for its own good - I mean, I liked a good twist but this one was just meh 
. It's always sad when you've got such a talented cast and crew behind a film, but it still doesn't quite come together in the end. Maybe they'll get another shot at it someday? 
. Bill Nighy is always a winner for me, but even he can't save the whole film from its own mess 
. I'm all for trying new things in cinema, but sometimes you just gotta stick with what works 
. Guess I'll be passing on more Pablo Trapero films for now... 
anyway i feel u about nighy tho he's sooo good @ it even though the plot was whack i love bill nighy in anything lol and staunton too 
the cast is just so talented but this movie jus didnt live up 2 its hype 
. The cast is insane though! Bill Nighy is always a winner and Imelda Staunton is so talented. But, for me, the pacing just dragged on too long 
. Still, Nighy's performance was solid 
. Maybe he could've carried the film a bit more without all the messy plot threads 
plus the whole family drama thing was done to death already. i get that sometimes you gotta tackle tough topics but in this case it felt like the filmmakers just phoned it in 
And don't even get me started on how Nighy's character is just so... over-the-top. Can't we have a gruff author who's still somewhat relatable? 
the plot was so convoluted even i got lost lol and the pacing was so slow it felt like they were dragging out the drama 
but nighy was def on point as always 
i did love the family dynamics tho they had some really intense moments 
gotta give props to the cast tho they all brought their a game 
sadly it just fell flat for me 
but as it stands its just another mediocre film in my book 
. It's like they took a bunch of themes and ideas that we've seen before in other movies and just tried to mash them together without any real care for how it would work out 
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to have an all-star cast in a movie that's just gonna leave you feeling underwhelmed? 
. And don't even get me started on how frustrating it was to try and piece together what was actually going on 
maybe with a few more drafts, it could've been something special"
The plot is like a big ol' mess, but Bill Nighy's performance as the grumpy author was on point