Labor Day (2013)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Well, this movie is based on the novel, so it's not really the movie's fault, but I didn't like some aspects of the story. The movie itself is really good, quite emotional, realistic, intense. I watched it without any distractions or breaks. I do recommend this movie. Actually I watched it because of Tobey Maguire, but he's actually only like 2 minutes here, at the end. The movie is about hiding the prisoner and there were a few moments where there were circumstances which could have led to his discovery by police, and I thought, "Man, is this really how the police is gonna find him, I hope it's not that simple?", but gladly it all was just a provocation to think that, and actually the story did not go that simple. Even though I really hated the ending that he went back to prison for around 20 years, the story as a whole was really good and I really enjoyed the movie! The interesting thing about the ending is that you don't really know how did police find him. Was it the kid, who led the police to their house and wrote the letter to the father? Or was it the mother who tried to withdraw a large sum of money from the bank? Or was it the prisoner, who was stunned and acted weirdly when mother's friend unexpectedly entered the house? Any of these could have led the police to their house.

Labor Day (2013): Dir: Jason Reitman / Cast: Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Gattlin Griffith, Brighid Fleming, Tobey Maguire: Manipulative drivel about a long weekend that brought passion and love in the most unexpected way. Kate Winslet plays a single mother battling depression, and Gattlin Griffith plays her wise beyond years son. Josh Brolin plays an injured escape convict who spends the weekend at their house. He means no harm and declares that the murder charge isn't what the news is reporting. There is a back story that regards getting home after Vietnam only to learn that his baby really isn't his. Winslet's husband ran off with his secretary so her son does most of the errands. Starts out interesting until manipulation sets in. He ties her up gently hinting the pathetic attempt at kinky. Neighbors stop by unannounced then they make a peach pie. Even the cop stopping by seems like a bad plot contrivance. This doesn't end with the satisfaction that perhaps director Jason Reitman believes he achieves but this is a major step down after directing great films like Juno and Thank You For Smoking. The principal actors play out their roles with appeal and sometimes conviction but smaller roles are an annoyance. We have Tobey Maguire in a brief role as the film's narrative. The biggest idiot is a manipulative girl, played by Brighid Fleming who comes off like an adult in a juvenile body. Her talks with Griffith are never convincing and further lend reason why this is nothing more than a high budget soap opera unworthy of viewing on any day let alone Labor. Score: 4 ½ / 10

The movie presents yet another blow to my single-male ego. So now even a known escaped murderer can sweep a beautiful woman off her feet, in one weekend no less, better than I can? I should just give up.OK, I will just accept that this concept is just movie magic and suspend my disbelief for the sake of the movie. I guess I will also suspend my disbelief that a protective mother would let an escaped murderer (no matter how calm or attractive) stay in her house under any circumstances. And I will suspend disbelief that a mature-for-his-age boy would not do something (anything) to protect his mom from the perceived threat (especially as he should have felt guilty about bringing the stranger into their lives in the first place). And lastly, I should just accept that a murderer on the run would spend time outside in broad daylight performing chores for the captive family when the neighborhood is swarming with police searching for him.Other than those flaws, the movie is quite well done, with good acting performances all- around, good story pacing, and a script detailed enough to build three dimensional characters outside of the main story.Just because I am a sucker for romance, I will recommend this movie (with the above reservations) to fellow romance-seekers.

I find myself using IMDb more these days, but what I found when I searched for this film was a disappointing 6.9 out of 10, a much too low rating for a beautifully written piece of work. No not an exciting film but one that delves deeper in to the characters, you are captured immediately when Kate winslet's character, who is very troubled begins to interact with the escaped convict who is played by Josh Brolin. As he settles in and you watch their relationship develop in to something very beautiful, you discover darker secrets which adds more intrigue and keeps your attention. The son of Kate Winslet delivers a ten out of ten performance, also giving you an individual storyline, not only is he a key part in the film talking you through everything as it unfolds, but you see his struggle through puberty and finding his way as a young boy learning about relationships between men and women. This film is very dark, yet i feel there was beautiful message conveyed throughout. A must see! If you come across this film you should never over look it. Outstanding performances from Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.