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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Being Flynn
- Review Date: March 2, 2012
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Uneven, mature drama is too edgy for younger kids.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Being Flynn is based on Nick Flynn's memoir Another Bulls--t Night in Suck City and is a complicated, mature story about a father and son reunited under difficult circumstances. Much of the drama's material is weighty, including discussions about, and depictions of, homelessness, family estrangement, abandonment, jail time, and parental suicide, and may be too heavy for younger teens. Expect plenty of swearing (including "f--k," "s--t," and more) and sexual innuendoes, as well as some relatively tame sex scenes (groping, kissing, but no graphic nudity). One scene does show a naked male butt, and there's quite a bit of drinking (sometimes to excess) and drug use, including both pot and crack. Underneath it all, though, is a message of redemption.
What's the story?
In this dramedy directed by Paul Weitz and inspired by author Nick Flynn's memoir Another Bulls--t Night in Suck City, it's not easy BEING FLYNN -- neither Jonathan (Robert De Niro), a taxi driver who's been working on his Great American Novel and is convinced he's the best there is, nor his son, Nick (Paul Dano), a promising writer with no life plan. Father and son haven't seen each other in nearly two decades, even after Nick's doting but melancholy mother (Julianne Moore) committed suicide. But after being evicted from his apartment, with no one to help him move his things, Jonathan calls Nick to ask for assistance. Nick helps, and Jonathan disappears once more -- only to show up at the homeless shelter where Nick works.
Is it any good?
One thing Being Flynn gets right: casting. With De Niro as Jonathan and Dano as Nick, the movie is steeped in strong performances that make up for many of its short list of ills. De Niro flexes his muscles and reminds us, with a portrayal marked by subtlety and grace and intensity (in all the right places), why he has long been considered one of the industry's best. The supporting cast is also iron strong. And the film's depiction of the homeless is suffused with empathy and effort rarely seen these days in Hollywood movies; there's no judgment.
It's also worth applauding Weitz's decision to tell the story through an interesting narrative lens, with voiceovers and perspectives from both Jonathan and Nick. At times, the film loses its balance because of this juggling act, but not often. What's unclear, however, is why Nick is so forgiving of Jonathan. Is he truly that generous, or is he simply unwilling to examine how he feels about the situation? While Jonathan feels fully formed, Nick is still an enigma, and that feels a bit like a loss.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Being Flynn's messages. Is it a positive story overall, or a negative one? Can Nick forgive his father?
The movie is based on a memoir; how accurate do you think it is to what happened to the writer in real life? Why might filmmakers (or the author himself, for that matter) have changed facts to tell the story?
How does Being Flynn compare to other movies in which parents reunite with their children? Does it add anything new to the genre?
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Teen, 17 years old
April 1, 2012
AGE
Not Bad, But The Book Was Better
I read the book version of this with my mom and fell in love with Nick Flynn's lyrical writing style and captivating story. When I found out a film was made of the book, I was super excited, but I was a little unsure because going to see a movie adaptation of your favorite book can be a gamble. My parents and I saw this movie today. First of all, I thought the casting choices were excellent. Robert De Niro in particular was perfect for the roll of Jonathan Flynn. I was a little disappointed because several parts of the book were cut in the movie version (his summers spent in Provincetown MA, a lot of his parents' backstory, etc.) Also some of the characters were changed around (Emily became a significantly different character named Denise, Nick Flynn's brother was cut, etc.) I was happy that Ivan and Richard were included, and not changed very much from the book. I was surprised to see a few sex scenes (partial nudity, not too bad, but still) in this movie, because from what I recall there was only one chapter that was even sexual, and it only mentioned "feeling each other's bodies in the darkness."The book goes into more detail and is more in order than the movie. I say this is worth a watch, especially if you're a fan of the book. Kinda iffy for fourteen and under (I am fourteen, despite the fact that my profile reads 17). It's good for mature teens and adults.
What other families should know:
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Focus Features |
| Director: | Paul Weitz |
| Cast: | Julianne Moore, Olivia Thirlby, Paul Dano, Robert De Niro |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 2, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | July 10, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language throughout, some sexual content, drug use, and brief nudity |
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