This Thursday, the movie Room will be released into cinemas here in Australia. I’ve seen it. Ever since I saw it, I have been trying to think of the best way to write about it here, because this is a deeply haunting yet incredibly inspiring movie.
I did not want to spoil this movie for anyone, but then I saw the ads they are putting on TV and realised the ads themselves give away the one thing I did not want to mention. Plus, I knew the spoiler before I saw it and it didn’t change my reaction to it.
Room is the story of “Ma” and “Jack”. Ma was kidnapped several years ago and has since been held captive in “room” which is a small garden shed, sexually abused by Old Nick. At some point during her captivity, she becomes pregnant and gives birth to Jack, who has never been out of the tiny room.
Room is the only world Jack knows – and by extension, the world we begin to know, because we see events through his eyes and from his perspective. Ma carefully shields the realities of their situation from Jack and when Old Nick is due to visit, Jack is hidden away in a cupboard, where he sleeps.
Knowing that Old Nick has lost his job, foreclosure is imminent, and suspecting they will both be murdered rather than released, Ma comes up with plans to escape. After some failures, one attempt is a success. No more room. You can imagine how terrifying this is for Jack.
This is probably one of the best movies I have seen, ever. I loved these characters and I wished the movie was twice or three times as long, I really wanted to spend more time with them. I love the way they showed us how broken Ma has become but not showing us the abuse itself – there is no need, we understand what is going on.
This movie will make you feel all the feels. There were times I was laughing, there is one scene that had my heart feeling like it was trying to escape my chest, another scene where tears were just running down my face..
If you see only one Oscar nominated film this year, make it this one. ;)
I’ll have to see if this is in the US. I remember reading about the book. Haven’t read it,but it sounds interesting.
It might be on DVD over there by now.. it was released in the US back in October I think.. :)
Not to be pedantic or anything…but I seem to remember that the closet was called Wardrobe.
But yes this is a brilliant movie and it should be seen :)
I do have to watch it again, I only saw it the once a while ago.. :)
I’ve seen the book doing the rounds, it sounds like a good read but since I’ve had my daughter, I find it hard to read anything about young kids or babies being mistreated so I’ve avoided it.
It is a tough subject but they dealt with it beautifully, I thought. And Jacob Tremblay who plays Jack in the movie, he was just so gosh darn cute! I made the decision many years ago not to have kids.. and yet he very nearly inspired me to think again. That is saying a heck of a lot. :)
Many of my friends didn’t like the book, but maybe I should give it a try. I generally prefer the book to the movie but I often enjoy the movie more if I’ve read the book because I get the nuances.
I thought the book was great. I loved the Jack character and found him quite inspirational. I say try the book first and see if you like it. The movie was brilliantly done. :)
I haven’t seen any ads, but I’ve read about the movie, there was a review in the paper, this is not a movie I want to see.
I personally would not have picked it either but I read a great review of it and decided to give it a go. I am very glad I did, because it has inspired me to get my shit together in ways I did not foresee. The performances are just amazing, and this is the first abduction movie I have ever seen that did not show details which were difficult to stomach.
I went and read the book after and that was just as good as the movie. Tis a shame you’ll miss out on it. :)
I watched this movie after reading this and thinking it sounded so interesting! Was not disappointed, such a good movie!
http://www.livinginagoldenafternoon.net/