Outstanding

Rating: 9/10 (28 January 2016)

This is a dazzling movie.
The film is superbly built; the first half is set within 'Room'; for Joy (Brie Larson) it is the shed where she's been held hostage, for her little boy Jack (Jacob Tremblay) it is the only world he knows. Joy has told him that the only thing outside of Room is outer-space and anything seen on TV only exists in TV-land. One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is the contrasting lenses through which Joy and Jack look at the world and specifically Room. For Jack it's all he's ever known; he affectionately names each object - sink, bath, plant, wardrobe. For Joy, it represents oppression, for Jack, it's life. And yet, the promise of trees and leaves and dogs is still alluring - Joy eventually lets Jack in on the truth about 'outside' before hatching a plan to escape. The intensity rises throughout the opening sequence as the desperation of their situation becomes more apparent. As Jack plays dead and their evil captor loads him into a truck wrapped in a carpet, I have never wanted anything more passionately in a film than for their plan to succeed - it had to. My heart wouldn't cope if it didn't, such is the strength of connection that Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay create through their incredibly forceful and convincing performances.
Thankfully their plan did work and the film could easily have ended here; a story of brutal oppression, despair, hope, uncertainty and ultimate victory; a classic tale. Mother and son out in the open. Free with trees and leaves. Granny and Grampa. It would have been a good film.
The reality had far more depth. Joy had escaped; it'd been all she'd wanted, all she'd thought about but now she was there, she wasn't happy. Jack wasn't happy either, although his reasons are more immediately apparent; losing the comfort and security of home and the close proximity of his Ma. What Joy was processing was far more nuanced; perhaps an element of guilt-ridden anti-climax, what-now syndrome, a remorseful and personal look at how life had moved on without her - her parents had separated and gotten on with their lives. Did she even matter? Overwhelming insecurities over her parenting naturally arose.
All of this drives her to the edge of death as she attempts to end it but this moment gives her some perspective. Jack cuts off his hair - his 'strong' - and sends it to her in hospital. This display of love and affection empowers Joy and she comes back a stronger, happier woman and a stronger, happier mum, scarred by trauma unimaginable but on the road to a better life.
It's two magical performances from Larson and Tremblay. It's a mesmerising tale that is expertly woven together into an exceptional film. In my opinion is deserves Best Picture and if Larson doesn't win Best Actress then I will eat my hat and wonder what the world is coming to.