#REVIEW: “LABOR DAY”

Labor Day is one of those Films which absolutely sticks with you long after you watch it.  Based on the Novel by Joyce Maynard, Director/Writer Jason Reitman premiered the Drama-Thriller at TIFF ’13 to resounding praise and it is all warranted.  The Film centers around depressed, single Mother Adele (Kate Winslet), whom with her Son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) are almost coerced into providing shelter to a wounded Man named Frank (Josh Brolin), who is on-the-run after escaping a Hospital recovering from Appendicitis.  Matters become complicated though as they must remain under-the-radar from Neighbours and Police about their secret.  At once, they learn that Frank actually is a Convict, who becomes both a Husband/Father Figure in their home.

Remaining faithful to the source material, Reitman gives us an interesting mixture of tones in Labor Day which at once is gut-wrenchingly intense, heartbreakingly sad and hugely cathartic.   It reads more as a Story than an Actors’ Movie centered on performances and once we’re in the confines of Adele and Henry‘s home, we too find ourselves held captive. At every moment we fear something is about to go horribly wrong and this is the beauty of the Film – we’re hopelessly engaged. That being said, Winslet and Brolin are outstanding, completely disappearing into their Characters and the Story, while Griffith captures Henry‘s wonderment and confusion commendably.

Paramount Pictures releases Labor Day on January 31, 2014.