Room

One thing to be said for independent films is that of originality. Whether it be a quirky comedy, an odd drama or a whimsical musical, one can be rest assured that when they leave the theater, their price of admission will definitely be well spent. When I saw my first trailer of "Room", I realized that there was a very unique and obscure quality about this production that must be seen, and after viewing it, my opinion became evident.

This tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother, Joy 'Ma' Newsome (Brie Larson). Like any good mother, she dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical--they are trapped--confined to a windowless 10-by-10 foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment , Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack's curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma's resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world.

Others to round out the cast are Sean Bridgers as Old Nick, Wendy Crewson as Talk Show Hostess, Joan Allen as Nancy, William H. Macy as Robert, Tom McCamus as Leo, Cas Anvar as Dr. Mittal, Amanda Brugel as Officer Parker, Joe Pingue as Officer Grabowski, Randal Edwards as Lawyer, Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Attending Doctor and Justin Mader as FBI Agent.

This was creatively and uniquely directed by Leonard Abrahamson ("Adam & Paul" '04, "Garage" '07, "Dublin 26.06.08: A Movie in 4 Days" '08, "What Richard Did" '12, "Frank" '14) plus TV and a short. This filmmaker definitely sticks to what he does best: the indie film circuit. I truly believe that he wouldn't have a problem directing commercial films, but why do this when his heart is in the indie film? As with other films, he simply made these characters, especially Larson, come alive with painstaking realism where one would believe they are peering into someone's window and watching them live their life. It was equally written well by Emma Donoghue based on her novel. As with other very few novelists, this writer made this story incredibly compelling. Most writers can't make the transition from novelist to screenwriter, but Donoghue was able to master it in spades. And considering she only has a short, other than this, to her credit, all the more I am in awe of her ability. It's no wonder that she has garnered an Academy Award nomination. Brie Larsen was stunning as the loving, devoted, stressed mother to her son, Jack, and, again, is no wonder that she, too, has been nominated.

This is not a film for everyone, but certainly one that so many people should see. Emotionally, it runs the gambit--anywhere from funny to intense, to stressful, to fearful, to tearful, to redemptive and back again. It's a quirky little film, but I'll tell you, it packs quite the wallop that you not forget.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                    Rated: R                                   118mins.