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The Vow

A saccharine and paint-by-numbers slice of romance, which is largely boosted by the appeal of its two leads.

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (3D)

The under-utilised 3D adds little to this prequel, which only serves as a sore reminder of the brilliance of the original films.

Any Questions For Ben?

The talented bunch of actors ably cut through the surface gloss, but it’s tough to remain invested in the plight of the self-absorbed lead.

Shame

It starts off as brutal but arresting stuff, and the two lead performances are scorching, but disappointingly dissolves into a case of tragedy for the sake of tragedy.

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Mother And Child (Film)

by Karlie Jeffrey | June 15, 2010 15:59 | Edited June 15, 2010 16:00

With an emotionally raw script and top-notch performances, this provides an insightful look into the complex bond between mother and child.

The link between mother and child, with all its cliched complexities, is a difficult one to define, yet in Mother And Child, writer/director Rodrigo Garcia (Nine Lives) does a fine job with his cinematic picture of this bond. The film centres on three women whose lives become inextricably tied through the bonds of motherhood.

 

The ever reliable Annette Bening does an astounding job as Karen, a prickly fifty-year-old nurse who was forced to give up her daughter, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), for adoption when she was only fourteen. Elizabeth has now grown into a fiercely independent and successful woman who uses her sexuality to both build up relationships and destroy them at the same time. These women have never met. Then there's Lucy (Kerry Washington), who is desperate for her own baby, but cannot conceive.

 

With its emotionally raw script, Mother And Child is nothing short of a gift for its actors. Bening is heartbreakingly honest as the mother who has lived and breathed the birth and surrender of her daughter for 37 years. Watts is commanding as the strikingly forward Elizabeth, and Washington gives Lucy depth and purpose. While some turning points in the script are corny, it's the fine performances by these actresses that make them believable. The supporting performers, including Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits and David Morse, are equally impressive.

 

But Rodrigo Garcia plays the ultimate supporting character. With his script and direction, he allows the film to breathe, giving ample space for his plot strands and characters to develop. Though set in fast paced LA, Mother And Child has a slower, gentler feel about it than its setting might suggest, and silence is not frowned upon. This lets the audience take in all the poignant questions that Garcia sensitively raises about family ties, separation and motherhood.