very strange.
reitman makes sure everything is visually slick/polished and keeps a steady narrative momentum throughout, so labor day never feels dead. and kate puts the wins in winslet as per usual.
the kid is technically good at conveying stuff, but otherwise flat. much like the whole movie. i didn't understand why everything was framed from his perspective, especially relative to kate who has a far more interesting journey, and most of her major turning points happen offscreen. it's like they couldn't figure out how to show such an unlikely romance blossoming so they cut away to a kid whenever it got difficult.
the writing is very expository and odd throughout. no one sounds quite like a real person.
i'm curious about why reitman felt compelled to make this. in the end, it's not really worth your time.
why am i so comforted by james van der beek continuing to get work? i don't know exactly but i am.
****spoilers!!!****
so kate loves josh mainly because it's been a long time since she's been touched... but then she waits for him to get out of prison for more than 25 years.. and we're supposed to feel good about that? basically she gets really lucky and finds someone who can express love without requiring her to leave the house and she never has to abandon her fear or change. it's a terrible message.
and josh brolin is kind of innocent.. a twist that makes the movie way less interesting. if he was actually a murderer or had been falsely convicted or something like that, there would be more to chew on. instead it feels like the movie is being inoffensive for the sake of inoffensiveness.
