Stellar cast, fine acting, let down by an awful script. A truly terrible screenplay which should have been binned immediately.
Meryl Streep brings class to every role; I assume she owed the studio a film or needed money to do this role. Edward Furlong does what he does best - playing a moody teenager. Liam Neeson is just a guy "protecting his family" by doing dodgy things. Underrated actress playing the younger sister, who is firmly entrenched in the male gaze. By the end of film her only reason for existence is to give attention to boys.
Let's talk about this script. The premise is good: a teenage boy is the last person to see his girlfriend alive. This is a family drama focusing on the parents in a what-would-you-do scenario. There's victim blaming ("the girl got herself killed"), promiscuity shaming, unwarranted violence against women ("I didn't mean to hit her"), and plot holes you can drive a truck through. Teenage Jake would be considered a person of interest, yet his car and bedroom somehow demands a search warrant, and he is finally arrested with zero evidence. This leads to his parents making some extremely poor choices, ultimately leading to a hug fest in the final moments.
Give it a miss.
Meryl Streep brings class to every role; I assume she owed the studio a film or needed money to do this role. Edward Furlong does what he does best - playing a moody teenager. Liam Neeson is just a guy "protecting his family" by doing dodgy things. Underrated actress playing the younger sister, who is firmly entrenched in the male gaze. By the end of film her only reason for existence is to give attention to boys.
Let's talk about this script. The premise is good: a teenage boy is the last person to see his girlfriend alive. This is a family drama focusing on the parents in a what-would-you-do scenario. There's victim blaming ("the girl got herself killed"), promiscuity shaming, unwarranted violence against women ("I didn't mean to hit her"), and plot holes you can drive a truck through. Teenage Jake would be considered a person of interest, yet his car and bedroom somehow demands a search warrant, and he is finally arrested with zero evidence. This leads to his parents making some extremely poor choices, ultimately leading to a hug fest in the final moments.
Give it a miss.