Before and After

Directed by Barbet Schroeder, Before and After follows Liam Neeson’s Ben and Meryl Streep’s Carolyn as they’re forced into an impossible situation after their son (Edward Furlong’s Jacob) is accused of murder. Filmmaker Schroeder, armed with a script by Ted Tally, delivers an often egregiously deliberate drama that nevertheless sustains one’s interest throughout, with the movie’s watchable atmosphere perpetuated (and heightened) by the solid performances and almost inherently compelling premise. (It’s worth noting, in terms of the former, that Streep and Neeson’s competent yet far-from-electrifying efforts are generally eclipsed by Alfred Molina’s first-class and thoroughly entertaining turn as Jacob’s flamboyant lawyer.) The overlong running time, coupled with a somewhat meandering midsection, prevents Before and After from becoming the spellbinding endeavor Schroederhas obviously intended, ultimately (ie the whole thing has the feel of a polished movie-of-the-week), and yet certain aspects of the narrative, particularly everything involving Ben’s ill-advised attempts at covering up the crime, prove effective enough to smooth over the picture’s deficiencies – with the end result a decent-enough piece of work that feels like it should be a whole lot better.

**1/2 out of ****