One of the main reasons this video series was started centered behind having a place for deep dive film discussion. More than a review, less than a book.
What made me take the plunge into C’mon C’mon, written and directed by Mike Mills, was that I think so few have actually seen it. The drama came out in late 2021, amidst tons of awards fare. The story was short and sweet up front, but carried layers of intrigue and complexity.
Played eloquently by Joaquin Phoenix, Johnny is a damaged bird--carrying emotional scars that have forced him to close up to everyone except his sister Viv, played by Gaby Hoffman. She is brilliant in her own right here, carving out a supporting role that packs punch due to the war-torn sibling relationship shared by Johnny and Viv.
Mental illness plays a big role in this film, as it shreds and twists relationships throughout the film. The plot kicks off when Johnny tells Viv he can watch her son, Jesse (played by the new and ever talented Woody Newman) so she can go take care of her husband, Paul (Scoot McNairy), who had another mental breakdown.
That’s something Johnny and Viv know a lot about, because their mother suffered from a similar mental disease, which explains their frayed relationship. It’s Newman’s Jesse who forges a friendship with Johnny that halfway saves his life, while also providing a nice suture to his own young yet tumultuous world. It’s the tale of how an adult helps a boy heal by being there for him, and how a boy helps an adult heal by being there for him.
It’s a slow yet powerful film that resonates. The score, assembled by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, is top notch. I’m rambling. Watch the video and enjoy my 20 minute breakdown, where I explain a personal connection the film has to my life.
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