Mother and Child

An obvious return to form for filmmaker Rodrigo García (following 2008’s disappointing Passengers), Mother and Child follows a trio of women, Annette Bening’s Karen, Naomi Watts’ Elizabeth, and Kerry Washington’s Lucy, as they’re forced to confront a series of issues primarily revolving around parenthood. As expected, García has infused Mother and Child with an exceedingly deliberate pace that ultimately proves instrumental in cementing the film’s success – as the writer/director subsequently manages to cultivate an atmosphere of authenticity that’s reflected in the impressive array of compelling, fully fleshed-out characters (ie it’s not difficult to envision an entirely separate feature being built around some of the film’s periphery figures). And although García has assembled a flawless supporting cast that includes, among others, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson, and Amy Brenneman, it’s the stellar work from the three leads that cements Mother and Child‘s place as an above average drama – with García’s willingness to infuse his protagonists with prickly attributes (and the actress’ willingness to portray the same) effectively establishing (and sustaining) an irresistible vibe of gritty realism from start to finish. The end result is a slow yet rewarding endeavor that’s been punctuated with a number of genuinely moving interludes, and it’s ultimately clearer than ever that there’s just nobody who does this sort of thing better than García.

*** out of ****