The Tender Bar (Amazon Prime)
Starring Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Daniel Ranieri, Lily Rabe, Christopher Lloyd
Directed by George Clooney
Rating: *** ½
No middlepath for this one. You either hate the film’s unapologetic sentimentality or love it for the same reason.I will go with love.
Superstar George Clooney’s eight directorial is his tenderest gentlest ode to a lost childhdhood. Based on the memoirs of journalist-author J. R. Moehringer,it winds its way with beautiful fluency through young JR’s tumultuous childhood. His spouseless mother, played brilliantly by Lily Rabe dreams of sending JR to Yale.
When the dream fructifies JR is a teenager played by the very talented Tye Sheridan. But it’s the little boy Daniel Ranieri who plays the childhood HR, who gets our undivided attention in spite of a seasoned supporting case. Ranieri is solemn and wise at such a tender age. He effortlessly wins over the friends of Uncle Charlie who pamper and mollycoddle little JR.
And really, it is so easy to see why. Oh, haven’t I told you about Uncle Charlie? Sorry sorry. So many family members swamp little JR’s life. When he leaves for college and has a catastrophic relationship with the pompous Sidney(Briana Middleton) I felt my interest- level slipping a bit, but just a bit. It could be because Sidney treats JR like trash.
There is cringeworthy dinner scene with her parents where Sindey’s snobbish mother insults JR so openly it is shocking. Throughout that sequence I wondered how JR’s Uncle Charlie or his mom would have reacted had they been around to witness the apple of their eye being shredded.
The performances are worldclass, top of the pops, chartbusters. Ben Affleck and Lily Rabe are in top form. So is Christopher Lloyd, looking like a wizened Arjun Rampal, as JR’s grumpy grandpa who rises to the occasion magnificently when the need arises. Some of the family sequences are guaranteed to bring a lump to the throat.
Stay put to watch the visuals of little HR enjoying a day at the beach with Uncle Charlie and his friends.Such warmth,such glorious joy to behold the love that flows on screen.
And so what if JR’s scummy father is missing? There are advantages to being the child of a wife deserter.Everyone tries to compensate with extra love. No wonder this film overflows with it.