Review – James White
James White follows a man who is his own worst enemy. A confused, angry man unknown where he belongs in the world who can self destruct at any point for any reason. It isn’t pleasant to watch, but it is some of the most fascinating pieces of cinema and acting of 2015.
James (Christopher Abbot) is a troubled twenty something trying to make a life in New York. He smokes and drinks too much, he stays out until the early morning, and can insult an unsuspecting bar patron at any moment. As his mother (Cynthia Nixon) battles a serious illness, James must get his act together to help take care of her. But the pressure of the responsibilities and new life style may be too much for James, as his entire life is at risk of imploding right in front of him.
Welcome to the big leagues Christopher Abbot. After having small roles in films like Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene (2011), A Most Violent Year (2014), and being on one season of HBO’s “Girls”, Abbot gives a performance that should put him on the map. Abbot is James White. He encapsulates all the anger, sadness, despair, and desperation of this tortured man. Abbot is in every frame of the movie, carrying it on his back. Without this performance, this movie wouldn’t have succeeded. Cynthia Nixon is truly heartbreaking as White’s dying mother. We watch as she descends into the sickness while also trying to help James as much as she can. You really believe the maternal love these two have for each other. They are two of the finest, realest performances of the year.
Writer/director Josh Mond makes one of the more impressive debut films of 2015. Inspired by some personal experiences, Mond really knows these characters and these situations and gives us a fully realized journey into the mind of one man’s self-destruction. Mond and cinematographer Matyas Erdely put the camera right in Abbot’s face and let’s us really see the emotion while also understanding how he sees the world around him. Mond doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable and tragic moments, which makes the film an incredibly raw and emotional experience.
James White is one of the best movies of 2015. It isn’t an enjoyable film to watch, but it is one the deserves to be seen. It is a complex character study about one man’s decent into self-destruction as his life continues to collapse around him. It is filled with raw emotion that will hit everybody in some way. It also features two brilliant performances from Christopher Abbot and Cynthia Nixon. Dive into the mind of James White, you won’t regret it.
MY RATING – 3.5/4