“Room” rhymes with womb. And tomb.
This intimate tale of a young woman abducted at age 17 who raises her five year son by her captor in a claustrophobic room is really about the child.
Children are a mirror of their parents input or lack of it and under impossible circumstances she has raised an independent and curious boy whose world stops at the walls around them and skylight above.
She has created a world inside that room where objects – sink stove refrigerator – are characters in their lives and members of their family.
He and she are inseparable and she is fiercely protective.
The first half of the film follows life and routine inside their box, including nocturnal visits from their captor “Old Nick,” a volatile loner and loser, during which the boy sleeps in a cramped closet.
This alone is an interesting anthropological Skinner box narrative.
Inevitably they escape, have a rocky reunion with her family and ultimately live in her old room with her mother and stepdad. The boy demonstrates resiliency and the ability to adapt but the mother, played by Brie Larson, is burdened by guilt, shame and rage for all she has lost. He moves on. She can’t.
Her presence is missed as she is sent off screen to deal with her issues. Meanwhile the boy tentatively blossoms under the care of his grandmother, played by Joan Allen.
Indie director Lenny Abrahamson, working from a screenplay by Emma Donoghue, who adapted her book, portrays their confinement with a detail-driven intricacy that unfolds into a small pocket of dread.
Larson’s intense and powerful performance has been mentioned as Oscar worthy. And the boy, played by Jacob Tremblay – who already has 13 acting credits to his name – is incredibly natural.
The story manifests itself through him and your heart follows.
Three stars ***
With Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridges, Wendy Crewson, Joan Allen, Amanda Brugel, William H. Macy. Produced by David Gross, Ed Guinney. Written by Emma Donoghue. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson.
Approximate running time: 108 minutes. Rated R; language.
Tags: Brie Larson, Emma Donoghue, Jacob Tremblay, Lenny Abrahamson, Room Posted by