Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3.5/4
An Inspirational Journey You Won't Soon Forget
Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/11/2017
Labeling something as "inspirational" and "based on a true story" can often be a setup to a schmaltzy film that pours on the saccharine and puts an overly happy face on any situation. Lion, however, gets everything right. It isn't all sunshine and happiness, it's struggle, danger, obsession and yet it takes you on an emotional journey that will certainly put a smile on your face even as you're wiping away those tears.
Lion follows the story of Saroo, who we first meet as a five-year-old boy growing up in a village in India. The young Sunny Pawar is perfectly cast in the role and I can't imagine the movie without him. Saroo lives with his mother, older brother Guddu and infant sister Shekila in harsh conditions, having to steal from a coal train just to get milk to drink. But things …
Rating of
2.5/4
Lion - Movie Review
Matthew Brady - wrote on 02/13/2017
Remember when I said "Manchester by the Sea" is a dramatic tearjerker, but the difference is that Manchester was a great movie and this one isn't.
I'm not saying "Lion" is a bad movie or anything, but best picture worthy? Heck no! I mean, the emotional elements are there that unfortunately didn't hit for me. It's a movie that's not going to stick with me after the end credits or a few years time.
And Rooney Mara was completely wasted in this movie, as she didn't do anything to the story and was only a plot device.
The only great things in can say about "Lion" is Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman outstanding performances. Especially Patel who I always thought was a great actor way before "Slumdog" came out. In "Lion", he shines and this is by far his strongest performance yet. Even …
