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'Room' Movie Review


Over the past few years, I have tried to expand my movie selections by checking out Oscar-nominated films. Today, I finally got around to checking out 'Room'.

Starring Brie Larson and youngster Jacob Tremblay, 'Room' centers around a mother and son that live in a very small single room. It isn't revealed where the room actually is at first, but Joy 'Larson' is frequently visited by a man her and her son, Jack, refer to as Old Nick (Sean Bridgers). Old Nick comes to Joy seemingly for sex, and to give them small amounts of amenities at a time.

Joy reveals to Jack, after his 5th birthday, that she was taken by a man that asked for help with his dog and has been in 'room' for 7 years.

Jack has never left 'room' and has no concept of the outside world, though Joy tries her hardest to explain things. Joy tries to escape 'room', including Jack in her plans to trick Old Nick. She succeeds in faking Jack's death so Old Nick can dispose of his body, wrapping him in a rug and telling him to run once he's able to. The plan succeeds and the police eventually find and free Joy.

Joy and Jack, after being released from the hospital, go to live with Joys mother and new step-father (as her parents divorced while she was missing). Joy has trouble re acclimating with the world, going so far as to attempt suicide, while Jack, slow to take to the world at first, begins to thrive in it. Jack's strength ultimately gives Joy strength as they move on with their lives.

The story is both heartwarming and heart-breaking. Seeing how Joy and Jack had to live, being prisoners for years was awful yet inspiring to watch. Joy's love for Jack is what kept her going all along. Both actors were marvelous in this film and it is one I would recommend checking out.

My rating: 8 out of 10

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