Directed by:
Jason ReitmanScreenplay:
Jason ReitmanCinematography:
Eric SteelbergComposer:
Rolfe KentCast:
Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith, Clark Gregg, J.K. Simmons, Brooke Smith, James van der Beek, Tom Lipinski, Maika Monroe, Brighid Fleming (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
From director Jason Reitman, Labor Day is a 'beautifully crafted' and 'captivating' romance starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin as two strangers drawn together under incredible circumstances. What starts as an unforeseen encounter over a long holiday weekend soon becomes a second chance love story in the unforgettable film that critics are calling 'uplifting and heartbreaking'. (Paramount Home Entertainment)
(more)Videos (18)
Reviews (9)
I watched Labor Day as part of a Valentine's Day event, during which a person is willing to undergo a bit of romance and score a bit in a partnership to fulfill their expectations of the holiday of lovers. This film can be simplified as "won't offend, but won't impress either." It won't offend mainly because of the presence of the central couple. Kate belongs to the elite of female character actors within her generation, and you simply believe in her as the abandoned mother. Josh Brolin could patent roles of charismatic bearded men with a tough exterior and a good heart - that's just simply him. The others play their roles as they should, and the director is capable of orchestrating it all. The problem lies in the screenplay, which does not address some things at all and only briefly touches on others. The most interesting and important aspect of the plot is the mutual discovery, building trust, and relationship between the escaped prisoner and his hostages. But that is incredibly superficial. It almost seems like Kate Winslet was just waiting for something like that and enthusiastically ended up in bed with a murderer sentenced to 18 years after a few hours. What should one think of such a character then? The psychology is simply superficial or completely unreliable. And the tacked-on romantic ending seems to come from a mediocre romance novel. Overall impression: 55%. ()
Jason Reitman is excellent at capturing the chemistry between people on screen through skillfully edited shots of the main characters and their body language. He was able to do this in his earlier films, especially in Up in The Air. Essentially, this one a very similar conversation, just set two decades earlier and with the difference that this time the main characters know exactly what they want, whereas in the previous film they had to figure it out first. Perhaps this takes away from the realism a bit and it falls into the realm of fiction (in terms of execution and storytelling), but Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet have charisma. It's a pity that the second half of the film is predictable, because the initial conversation was very enjoyable. ()
Labor Day offers a believably written story of two people who thought they would never find love and happiness in their lives, but fate gave them a few days together that changed both of their lives from the ground up. The film stands above all on the performances of Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, who were brilliantly seconded by the young Gattlin Griffith. Thanks to flashbacks, we slowly uncover the sad story of the two main characters and basically have no idea how things will turn out for them until the very end – a big plus for the unpredictability of the plot. Through the character of Henry, alongside the love storyline, the film offers a coming-of-age tale and seeing the world through a child's eyes, which is not as black and white as it might seem. Although the film has a slower pace at first, it doesn't get boring, and in the last third the atmosphere could almost be cut with a knife at times. ()
I had unwarranted prejudices towards this movie after watching the trailer and during the opening credits. I take it all back. It is one of the most pleasant films I have seen recently and a big surprise for me personally. It is indeed a very big romantic dramedy, but it is not pushy or forced. I didn't even guess the expected ending, which needlessly disgusted me in my head during those credits. Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet are good in it, you can believe every word, every look, and gesture. I also really liked the young Gattlin Griffith. The only negative thing remains the absence of my favorite song "Wings" by Birdy, which I diligently waited for until the last letter of the credits. So I'll just go play it on youtube. ()
A fairly interesting story, but in my opinion, somewhat brought down by the perhaps overly calm acting. Kate literally radiates emotions, but Josh Brolin's character could have been even more ambiguous, even tougher. In the end, it's quite an interesting romance, but it still drags a bit to really pull you in and hit you with the ending. ()
Ads