The Father (2020)

The Father (2020)

It’s hard to recall in many years ever having been so taken by a film. It’s production brought together heavyweights in each aspect of movie making: writer, director, actors, cinematographer, editor, and composer. Their collaboration resulted in an astonishing and unique portrayal of an old man’s descent into dementia, his daughter’s journey in living with him, and its outcome.

Anthony Hopkins, in one of his greatest performances, introduces us into the mind of a gentleman who does not quite realize that his mind is failing, or what his circumstances are. He shows us every emotion-- sometimes overtly, others with nuance. The story disguises itself by presenting his awareness from several points of view, although the audience does not realize it at first, which introduces a feel of mystery and mild surrealism. Each perception melds together in the end, leading to a moving but sympathetic conclusion.

So too does Olivia Colman --as the daughter-- let out all the stops. Her large limpid eyes express her innermost thoughts, and lead us through sadness, irony, and determination. She is the perfect accompaniment to her father’s befuddlement and confabulation. Olivia Williams shines as a compassionate nurse, and Imogene Poots impresses as an in-home care worker. The veteran Rufus Sewell is believable as the daughter’s mate who tries to convince her to put her father in a home.

Reportedly French writer/director Florian Zeller had Anthony Hopkins directly in mind as Zeller was writing the screenplay-- so much so that he stated that if Hopkins did not accept the role, Zeller would have made the film in the French language. We are grateful that Hopkins accepted. There simply was not a better acting performance this year, and one would hope he deservedly wins awards.

The production was instantly absorbing, and drew me in with concentration to the point that when it ended I felt as if I came to. Everything and everybody came together perfectly in this film, and it will be one for the ages.

Rating: 10/10

This was a lovely film and I agree with just about everything you've said here. It's going to be overlooked in several Oscar categories merely because it was released the wrong year.

That's true. It also doesn't find itself in any of the fashionable SJ columns.

Geez, what a gut punch of a movie. So well-acted, and so cleverly staged, too. My issue with "pure" dramas is how often you're left to just sit there, uncomfortable with whatever you're being made to look at. While that may sometimes be the point, it makes the emotional manipulation inherent in the genre (and medium as a whole) more obvious, but here the staging and machinations of it all almost help to disguise that, since your empathy and intellect are being engaged at the same time.

Anyway, tremendous film. Before this, I'd have been tempted to say Hopkins was sort of coasting these days and didn't have another incredible performance in him, but I was wrong. He's incredible here, as is Colman.

It's a great film. Very cleverly done.

I agree very cleverly done. I've seen many movies where you could observe a person's dementia or perhaps Alzheimer's disease, but you can say in this movie it's the other way around, seeing the facts from the affected one's point of view.
I'd say it certainly deserves "the golden statue".

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As I mentioned before, if it had been released another year, I could have seen this movie scooping up a bunch of Oscars, but the only one I really see it in contention for is adapted screenplay.

Yeah, like 20 or 30 years ago... I agree about the adapted screenplay, and possibly the editing. The awards less glamorous to the public are not generally quite as subject to the PC/SJ standard.

Just had to come here and give a big Bravo to the Academy who recognized both Hopkins and the screenplay.

A fine performance from Hopkins and a surprising Oscar win.

Hopkins wining oscar again at the age of 83. What a legend!!!