The Glass Castle - Movie Review

My wife and I spent yesterday afternoon catching the matinee showing of The Glass Castle. The trailer to the film felt a bit like something you would see on the Hallmark channel. None of the reviews raved about this film and the IMDB rating was south of 7. I am always leery about going to the theater to see a "sub-7" film. But sometimes a film piques my interest, and sometimes I will see a panned movie out of sheer boredom. In this case, my mother mentioned that she really enjoyed the book...which does not always translate to the film being good. That, combined with nothing else to do on a Saturday afternoon landed us at the theater for the matinee.

The film is based on Jeanette Walls' book of the same name. It is her memoir of growing up in a family where "dysfunctional" seems an inadequate description. Her father, Rex (Woody Harrelson) was an alcoholic. Her mother, Rosemary (Naomi Watts) a Bohemian painter and apparent enabler. Jeanette (Brie Larson) has a very close relationship to her father, refusing to lose faith in him time and again. Jeanette also seems strongest of her three siblings. Her older sister Lori (Sarah Snook) is disillisioned, but somewhat resigned to her fate. Until she saves enough money to leave home. Their younger brother Brian (Josh Caras) and younger sister Maureen (Bridgette Lundy-Paine) are less developed characters that figure less into the overall story. They are not forgotten characters, but this is Jeanette's story, so the narrative tends to follow her relationships more closely.

The film is likely to draw obvious comparisons to Captain Fantastic which also had an off-the-grid dysfunctional family plot. But that family was functional. The Glass Castle has more of an edge. The film takes place in 1989, using flashbacks to Jeanette's childhood to set the foundation for her own anger and reconciliation. The Walls family seldom stays in one place very long. Between bill collectors and alcohol-related incidents, the family is in a constant state of motion. The children are smart, home schooled on nature and books. But they often live as squatters, without running water or electricity. Their hopes for the future are based on a mythical glass castle that they plan to one day build on their own piece of land. It is a dream that, once shattered, destroys the hope and trust the children once had in their parents.

This film was better than I expected. I really don't know why it is getting panned. Is it a bit Hallmark-ish? Sure. Does it toe the line on cloying at times? A little. As a drama, it succeeds. I think it succeeds because of the characters. Because this is based on Jeanette's own life, the characters have the dimension that she knows them to have. This is from real life and it shows. Strong characters delivered with solid performances makes good drama. A very simple formula. But one Hollywood often whiffs at. The dialogue was good, a bit forced at times, but good. The film sets up a dilemma and gives the audience a rewarding resolution. It's okay for a movie to be "feel good."

The Glass Castle also works in some good comedic elements to break the tension at times. There are some dark themes discussed as Jeanette Walls bares all. Topics most families don't discuss, but often face. The ugliest aspects of humanity don't necessarily sever the bonds that make us family. In this story, those themes are explored and exposed. Without graphic violence. Without gratuitous nudity (there is no nudity). Without explicit language. Instead, a strong narrative involving flawed characters who love each other carries this film. I would recommend it. Even if you can still catch the matinee. I thought it was decent. Enough to give it 7.5/10.

Images and video courtesy of Lionsgate.