TIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: "Causeway" Is An Admirable Catalyst For Great Performances, Not Entertainment
6/12 ForReel Score | 2.5/5 Stars
Many will show up to Causeway for Jennifer Lawrence. Although not all of the movies she’s in are works of excellence (I’m looking at you Don’t Look Up), she is an actress who can turn in great performances for the right projects. As it happens, Causeway is one of those examples. But what I find more disappointing than Lawrence in a movie I’m less than amused with is Lawrence offering a great performance in a movie I’m less than amused with. Unfortunately, Causeway is again one of those examples.
In this feature directorial debut from Lila Neugebauer, Lawrence plays Lynsey who is a part of the US Army Corp of Engineers and has recently survived an IED explosion while in Afghanistan. The incident is devastating, requiring extensive rehabilitation followed by a return home with her preoccupied mother to continue recovery. While at home waiting for approval of her petition to redeploy from her doctor, she’s befriended by a kindhearted mechanic: James, played by Brian Tyree Henry (If Beale Street Could Talk). The two strike up a friendship, bonding over their own experiences with trauma and guilt. But when the relationship becomes more complicated, Lynsey is forced to think more about the physical and psychological challenges she’s actively disregarding and how to overcome them in order to maintain her relationships, each having their own complications.
Lynsey’s relationship with her mother (played by Linda Emond) is, at best, emotionally distant; when they’re together, rarely does it feel like Lynsey’s mother is genuinely invested in her. And Lysney is passive when talking about her brother, never offering any more details than necessary when he’s mentioned. And now, there’s James who continues to spend time with her after she expresses that she enjoys his company but is not wanting a romantic relationship with him. They spend much of the movie opening up to each other, peeling back more layers of each other’s lives with every conversation.
Lawrence brings her signature alluring attitude that balances tenderness with feistiness in her character’s effort to remain reserved and closed off, and it’s a laudable performance. This energy is perfectly complimented by Brian Tyree Henry, who is great at conveying empathy for Lynsey and the devastation of his own past. The two having great on-screen chemistry makes learning about their histories captivating.
Audiences drawn to Causeway for either of these two headliners will not be disappointed with what they offer the film. However, great patience has to be afforded to Causeway’s plot and pacing, and this is where my amusement in the film dwindles. Slow, quiet, and meandering to a fault, most of Causeway is reluctant about presenting real narrative-driving drama. As a result, Causeway can seem to coast in first gear for the majority of its 92 minute run time and come off as - and I hate to say it - boring. It makes me think that if there is an ideal place to watch Causeway, it may be more appropriate for theatrical screening as opposed to the Apple TV+ platform at home, where bored viewers have more engaging content on that and other platforms to turn to.
Those bearing the patience to stick with Causeway, however, are likely to recognize the mindfulness and sincerity in which the film is produced regarding its central themes. The script, penned by novelist Ottessa Moshfegh as well as Luke Goebel and Elizabeth Sanders, derives most of its value from one on one conversations between the characters. Not much happens throughout the film - it’s a true character study of Lynsey and James and an analysis of the anatomy of their friendship.
I explain all of this because it’s important to go into this movie understanding what you’re getting into. If you are indeed showing up to Causeway for Jennifer Lawrence - perhaps drawing parallels between Causeway and something like Silver Linings Playbook - it may be necessary to readjust expectations for something that is less about entertaining you as a viewer and more about exploring and exposing these characters. It’s quality filmmaking, undeniably, especially for a feature directorial debut. It’s just not going to be for everyone.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 1 | Entertainment Value - 0 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 0 | What does this mean?
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