#TIFF23: “EZRA” REVIEW

By George Kozera

EZRA opens with stand-up comedian Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale) as he regales the audience at a comedy club with funny and insightful observations, some of which include his being a father of an autistic son named Ezra (William Fitzgerald), who lives with his soon-to-be ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne). Max, who was once a successful comedy writer, now lives with his father Stan (Robert De Niro), a no nonsense, pugilistic individual who had been fired from many high-profile establishments as a chef due to his aggressive personality and is now a hotel doorman.

Ezra is a highly-intelligent young boy, and he has a few triggering moments (hugs, metal cutlery, bananas) but his latest outburst at school, potentially putting other students in jeopardy may put his time at the school in jeopardy. Rather than being expelled, Max and Jenna agree to take him to be diagnosed by a doctor, who recommends that not only Ezra be enrolled into a special needs school, he needs to start taking Risperdal, an antipsychotic and Jenna supports this plan of action. Max wholeheartedly disagrees and after seeing his son overly medicated and somnambulistic at the schoolyard during recess, he hatches a rather not fully conceived plan and abducts Ezra in the middle of the night and the two drive off in Stan’s classic convertible. While on the road, Max hears from his agent (Whoopi Goldberg) that she successfully booked him to be on the Jimmy Kimmel Show the following Friday and then discovers that an Amber Alert has been summoned to find the father and son.

There are numerous reasons I fell in love with EZRA starting with the impeccable performance from Cannavale. Always memorable in feature film supporting roles, in this movie he shows how genuinely talented and dynamic he is an actor, both dramatically and comedically. Newcomer William Fitzgerald brings authenticity and subtlety in a tour de force performance. This is Robert De Niro’s finest supporting work in some time, namely “Silver Linings Playbook”. Being a fan of Rose Byrne, she effortlessly portrays the many emotions her character is going through. It is evident that Director Tony Goldwyn (also in the Movie playing Jenna’s new boyfriend) loves and respects the acting craft and allows Rainn Wilson (The Office) and Vera Farmiga (Oscar-nominated for “Up in the Air”) to shine in their pivotal supporting turns.

The Cinematography is glorious, and I truly appreciated that. That being said, it did not pull at the emotional strings that leaves one weeping. It was just right. Fun fact: Screenwriter Tony Spiradakis used his own challenges with parenting an autistic son as inspiration for the movie.

EZRA screens at TIFF ’23:

Thursday, September 14, 9:30PM, TIFF Bell Lightbox