Directed by George Clooney and starring Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, and Lily Rabe, this film tells the story of a boy without a father, but he’s trying his best to be strong for his mother. According to IMDb, the story is based on a memoir by J.R. Moehringer.
The Tender Bar (2021) is an Amazon Original movie and can be viewed for free if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. With an hour and forty-five minute running time and an R rating, it’s an easy watch with nothing too off-putting.
Some of my favorite things about this movie are the directing, choice of music, and color grading that express the time period perfectly. With it’s connections to Amazon and the big stars in this movie, it is no surprise they were able to get ahold of the classic songs they incorporated into the story. Additionally, the directing is not always generic, it feels more specific to the plot and characters’ emotions.
The screenplay is well-written and the flashbacks are easy to follow. The pacing is even throughout and does not slow down or lull for too long. Information are the characters, their pasts, and relationships ae revealed in a timely manner, but not too fast that it feels rushed.
Overall, the creative direction of the movie is what makes it successful in my book. While the story is not something extraordinary, the acting and music combine to set a specific tone that is unique to the film. While I would not add this film to my “must-watch-list”, I think it is worth watching if you have the time. I wouldn’t say to skip it, but I wouldn’t say you need to watch it right now. Put it on your television when you want to watch something solid that won’t let you down.
The music in the film makes me so happy. I think it might make you happy, too. And the ending of the film felt pretty magical and just what I wanted to see.
Favorite Quote
“You’re a writer the minute you say you are. Nobody gives you a diploma, you have to prove it, at least to yourself.”
7/10
*Disclaimer: Making a movie/tv show is hard. Sometimes you have an idea and it is not interpreted how you intended it to be. All directors, producers, writers, and everyone on set should be proud at what they created and I do not want to diminish that. I just want to share my opinions so we can learn from movies and see what works and what didn’t.
Aloha Arianna 