Enter this ROOM

Rating: 8/10 (21 January 2016)

Movies have the ability to transport you to many places. Places that are familiar, places that are strange and different or places you would not visit otherwise. It can take you to "A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away", or it can take you to visit the "Pirates of the Caribbean" or, sometimes - if you are very lucky - it will take you to ROOM.
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, ROOM tells the story of "Ma" (Brie Larson) who, as the movie begins, has been held hostage for 7 years in a windowless 10x10 enclosure. She has dubbed this enclosure "ROOM" for the benefit of her 5 year old son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay) who is held imprisoned with her. The first half of the movie takes place entirely in this enclosure where Ma has helped create a world for Jack. It is very much Ma taking care of Jack. The second half of the movie takes place "afterward" (I will not spoil anything here).
Ms. Larson, in her Oscar nominated role, is fantastic as Ma, imbuing her character with the right combination of strength and weakness of one imprisoned for so long, but you can see the love she has for her son and that she will do anything to protect him. While the first half of the movie is worthy of her Oscar nomination (and Oscar frontrunner status), it is the realistic affects to Ma (who we find out is named, ironically, Joy) during "afterwards" that really cement the role. We don't see a "superwoman" here, we see a real person dealing with a traumatic event and it's aftermath. She is ably assisted by strong turns by Joan Allen and William H. Macy as her parents, as well as Tom McCamus as "Leo".
The surprise for me is how strong a performance 9 year old Jacob Tremblay gave as 5 year old Jack. While Larson, rightfully so, is receiving critical acclaim, I am surprised that Tremblay isn't receiving more. Larson is the rock of the first half of the movie, but it is Tremblay who holds the 2nd half of the movie together. Jack's warm and loving soul radiates throughout the back half and keeps things together when it looks like things are falling apart.
Director Abrahamson gives a strong hand to the proceedings, having us focus on just what we need to focus on without it becoming too depressing, maudlin or sappy. He knows when to pull in and when to pull out and has you rooting for these characters from the start.
This movie is not for everyone and I am sure that more than 1 person will have a tough time making it all the way through it (I had a strong desire to go home and hug my family afterward, much to my son's chagrin). I was warmed by the strong love of mother and son and how it takes a subject that could have been a downer and has made it heartwarming and life affirming.
8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (of Marquis)