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CUSTOMER REVIEW



"Labor Day" (2014 release; 111 min.) brings the story of Adele (played by Kate Winslet), a thirty-something single mother with a son Henry (played by Gattlin Griffith) who is about to start 7th grade and whose voice-over guides the movie. Adele doesn't get out of the house a lot (much later in the movie we learn why in flashbacks) but one day she and Henry go to the local grocery store, and Henry gets cornered by some guy (played by Josh Brolin) who desperately needs a getaway ride. We later learn he is Frank, a convicted murderer who is on the run (much later in the movie we learn about the circumstances of his conviction). Adele and Henry drive him to their house. It isn't long before there is a connection of sorts between Adele and Frank, and Henry dryly observes that, among many different things they did, "Frank ironed and in return my mom taught him how to rumba", ha! With the cops still looking for Frank, eventually Frank and Adele must decide whether to make a run for it. To tell you more of the plot would surely spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to experience it for yourself how it all plays out.



Couple of comments: this movie is directed and adopted for the screen by Jason Reitman, who previously brought us movies like Juno, Thank You For Smoking, Up In the Air and most recently Young Adult. If you look at that string of films, "Labor Day" is quite a departure for him. He probably wanted to stretch his legs, so to speak, and good for him. Second, this is really two movies into one. The first movie, played out in the first hour, focuses on the connection that is building between Adele and Frank (and indirectly with Henry as well), and I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about it, as it plays out pretty much as I would expect a Nicolas Sparks adaptation. Much better is the second half of the movie, where we wonder what is going to happen next as Adele and Frank, and also Henry, make some fateful decisions with long-lasting consequences. I will admit that by the end of the movie, I was tearing up. Third, the performances are quite good, which of course is almost a guarantee from Kate Winslet in any movie. Gattlin Griffith as her son is equally excellent. Check out the short appearance (maybe 5 min. of screen time) of Tobey Maguire at the very end of the movie, as the grown-up Henry. Last, but certainly not least, the movie score, by British composer Rolfe Kent, is nothing short of excellent.



Bottom line: while the first half of the movie was not my cup of tea, the second half of the movie more than makes up for it, and in the end this was quite enjoyable, and better than I had expected. The movie opened today here in Cincinnati and the early evening screening I saw this at was not well attended (less than 10 people in a very large theatre). This doesn't bode well for the movie's box office fortunes. Be that as it may, in the end I enjoyed "Labor Day" more than expected, and I might suggest you check this out, be it in the theater or on DVD/Blu-ray.