The Playroom (2012) User Reviews

The Playroom (**½) features strong performances from Hawkes, Parker, and Harris...

[ClaytonDavis · 6/10 · 12 February 2013]

Naturally compared to Ang Lee's harrowing film The Ice Storm (1997), director Julie Dyer teamed up with sister and writer Gretchen Dyer attempt to bring an honest and emotional take on 1970's suburbia in the morose and grim, The Playroom. Starring Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and Olivia Harris, the story takes place in the attic where the four children of Martin (Hawkes) and Donna Cantwell (Parker) tell fantastical tales while their parents fall deeper in a drunken state downstairs with friends Clark and Nadia. If there's a film that can teach you about psyche of survival and the ability to grow up when your adolescent mind tells you otherwise, Dyer's film is a prime example. While the sequences of events are not the most believable or even the most logical, Dyer's screenplay does its best to construct a family that is often times recognizable. As the parents continue to ignore their children while self-absorbed in their own marital and painful woes, you're constantly challenged with the question, who do you care for, the kids, the adults, or neither? In a narrative structure that at times is reminiscent of The Neverending Story (1984), sometimes there's too much moral and metaphorical presentations to keep you engaged during its 82 minute runtime. As it begins with wit, humor, and real life teenage situations, the film makes an abrupt shift into heavy material that will make you cringe. John Hawkes showcases a calm and poised performance that's darkly reminiscent of his turn as Patrick in Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011). As Hawkes boils at the brim, never toppling over, his commitment to Martin and his emotional detachment from a life he no longer knows is one of the actor's strongest performances ever. He continues to show range and the ability to elevate any material he's given. As the alcoholic and disconnected mother Donna, Molly Parker, devotes herself to the craft beautifully, even when her character clearly is not. Similarly effective like Julianne Moore's Oscar-nominated turn in Stephen Daldry's The Hours (2002), Parker wears the despair on her soul and delivers her finest turn yet. Commanding the screen and demanding the viewer's attention, Donna is both the obstacle and driving force that makes for a successful but uneven look at matrimony. In the end, it's Olivia Harris that gets the most attention and care from the viewer. In the role of Maggie, the eldest daughter, Harris bares her soul on screen. Though a problematic character response to certain situations doesn't allow Harris to stretch out in the manner I believe she's fully capable of, Harris makes due with her material. It's a wonderful breakout performance that could and should land her more dynamic and capable roles in Hollywood. Not to mention, a beautiful singing voice that is showcased in the credits as she delivers sweet rendition of Carole King's "Up on the Roof." Leaving too many questions unanswered, and an ending that's less than satisfying, The Playroom intrigues and latches on to the viewer's conscience enough to stick through the tale. With children fighting to survive and fortunate enough to have the bond of siblings to get them through, the film can make you appreciate some of the bad times you remember growing up, even the ones you try really hard not to.

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Quite Subtle About A Violent Family.

[nairtejas · 6/10 · 25 January 2013]

The whole situation is in a house where a two couples fool around and most of them aren't happy about what they did. And the children of one of the couples just dream, hallucinate about a feeble, imaginary story. Both narratives are simple and straight-forward.

Acting is okay, cast is good and the plot is slippery. It bores you midway because the purpose of creating a film about a family and their disconnections, fades away. But if you keep watching, a conclusion arrives and you start perceiving what went all the way to 90 minutes of slow screenplay.

For amateur cast, director and writers, I would dub it as a good venture. Try harder and keep it up!

I cannot say I enjoyed the movie but yeah it is 6/10. Don't bother for the DVD. It will be up in HBO sometime.

WATCH OUT FOR: nothing special to watch out for.

Language: Strong | Sex: Strong | Nudity: Very Strong | Alcohol & Smoking: Critically Strong | Violence: Strong

Disturbingly Good

[robtaday · 10/10 · 16 December 2018]

I can see why no one wither likes this movie nor review it. It hits too close to home. I personally get sick and tired of the goody-two-shoes sanctimony today of those in their 40s, 50, 60s, 70s. The suburbs were a cesspool. This family was headed by a professional. They live in a "Brady Bunch" house. So much of this story rings true, especially the overly-curious little boy. He is just at that age when he could be led anywhere. All of them are so innocent in the midst of the adults around them. We can certainly see how in the next generation, parents disappeared altogether. The eldest child too. Sometimes it is every man for himself. It reminds me of "Boys in the Band" in that nobody likes that movie anymore either, especially young gays.

Teen daughter takes care of three younger siblings while alcoholic parents ignore them.

[suite92 · 8/10 · 14 December 2013]

Martin and Molly Cantwell have four children, Maggie, Ryan, Sam, and Janie. The parents are alcoholic, and mostly absentee. Maggie serves as surrogate mother. She and the younger children often cleanup after the mess that the parents leave behind (cigarette butts, drinks glasses, random clothing, and so on).

It's the era of the Patty Hearst kidnapping, when cigarettes were still popular and considered socially acceptable. Partner swapping seemed to be OK as well. After stealing yet another of her mother's birth control pills, Maggie observes he mother being kissed and fondled by the man of a couple visiting to play bridge.

Several drinks later, the parents do not notice that the older boy has fallen off the roof. Maggie does the required first aid. More drinks later, the parents and the guests openly discuss Donna's infidelity with Clark. Nadia and Martin are taken aback and depressed, respectively, and the friendship of the couples takes a hit.

Throughout the film, the four children weave stories in the attic as a defense against the ugly realities. They are constructing a rather nice one when Martin asks Maggie to come downstairs. Maggie reveals that Molly is pregnant by Clark, and the adults erupt. Maggie screams to get the to avoid bloodshed.

Will anyone find a path out of this real and deep mess? ------Scores-------

Cinematography: 10/10 Professionally done.

Sound: 10/10 No problems.

Acting: 8/10 Olivia Harris was excellent as Maggie. The child actors were fairly good, and I liked John Hawkes' performance.

Screenplay: 7/10 There were so many cuts that the film seemed awfully choppy.