Room - Movie Review

Room (R) 118 mins B
Small room, big emotion

Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, William H. Macy and Sean Bridgers

Room is adapted from Emma Donoghue's much ballyhooed, best-selling 2010 novel of the same name. The film is directed by Lenny Abrahamsom and stars one of the most underrated actresses in Hollywood, Brie Larson (Short Term 12 and Train Wreck). I didn't read Donoghue's novel, so I was a little afraid the film would be one-dimensional, i.e., a mother and her son trapped in a tiny room talking to inanimate objects. However, this film has more tension and more heart than I expected. A good portion of the scenes do take place in a 10 x 10 windowless room (a garden shed) where five year-old Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his Ma (Brie Larson) have been held captive for years. There is also some co-mingling with inanimate objects and critters. But, Abrahamson never lets the story feel contrived despite its "ripped from the headlines" familiarity. The best moments in Room take place outside of the room. (Spoiler Alert) It was interesting to see how Jack and Ma adjusted to freedom once they got it. And it raises the age old question, "Are we ever truly free?"

Check out the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZqF_TPTGs