I had been wanting to see this movie for some time. I had been reading the reviews from other people, and was very excited.
I was not disappointed.
The cast was stellar, and I was especially impressed with the young talent in this movie. Dane DeHaan as the teenage "Jason" was riveting, and reminded me first of a young River Phoenix, but then my son mentioned a young Leonardo DiCaprio, and after that Leo was all I could see the resemblance was uncanny, but the raw emotion was where they really paralleled.
Parts of the story were predictable but even the parts you think you know, you won't. I enjoy good screenwriting, and this was a demonstration of the best.
I loathe to say any more about the story. I don't want to give any of it away. The one thing I will say is that it gave me a lot to think about when I am debating "nature vs nurture" with my classmates.
DeHaan was indeed the stand-out actor for me in this film, but I have to mention the rest of the cast in a definite ensemble piece:
Ryan Gosling as Jason's father, Bradley Cooper as the Hero/Nemesis, Eva Mendes (whom I usually can't stand as an actor), Mahershala Ali as the man who raised Jason as his own, and Ray Liotta as my favorite "Where have you been, Man!?!" of the movie.
Just watch it. You will carry it with you for days.
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