Firstly: I'm shocked how many of the poor reviews for this say things like it's "boring" because I don't think they're picking up on the silent destruction of the marriage and the son's realisation that his perfect family is anything but. If you don't like this kind of character-driven story, just don't watch this movie. You won't enjoy it.
That being said, this movie is to others such as Hugo, by which adult dynamics are processed through the eyes of an adolescent character. Subtle and well done, Jake Gyllenhaal in particular is phenomenal in this film. A wonderfully complex exploration of the impacts of mental illness with as much hope as disappointment.
Just know: If you go in expecting explosions and gunfights, you may be disappointed. For myself, this made me excited to see what Paul Dano does next.
