Cinema Society

IN THE FAMILY

Average
Rating

4

Tuesday, October 30, 2012, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30

NOTE SPECIAL ON SCREEN TIME: 4:00pm and 7:40pm (You Pick!)

Introduction begins 10 minutes prior to screenings

Discussion follows screenings

AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

IN THE FAMILY

"An indie masterpiece... a film that avoids any message or statement and simply shows us, with infinite sympathy, how the life of a completely original character can help us lead our own."

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

IN THE FAMILY is a heartfelt story woven around child custody, “two-Dad” families, parental loss, interracial relations, the American South, and the human side of the law. The nature of what it means to be in a family is explored with ambitious and rewarding nuance.

No MPAA Rating / Running Time: 169 Minutes

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the length of the film, a formal introduction begins at special times of 3:50pm and 7:30pm, with the film going on screen at 4:00pm and 7:40pm. Discussion follows both screenings.

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4-Nov-12: Rosemary KimBal - Rating: 4

I can't get this movie out of my mind. I think it is brilliant. Kayde liked it too. Guy not so much. The message needs to be told about actually how to make life work. Without the legal system mucking it up, the mediation process can work if you go through the steps the mindful retired attorney laid out for Joey.

Then the everyday just being together in silence was masterful and tying it together at the hearing with the talk about his foster mother worked well.

2-Nov-12: Paul - Rating: 3

I debated writing about this one. I agree with the others that rated with the same score as me. It certainly was an engaging and topical story and quite good for a low budget, first time effort. However, I think it will be of more interest to a film class than it will be to a "general" aduience. I would have a hard time recommending this movie to a friend. The 6 year-old actor was amazing.

31-Oct-12: Nancie - Rating: 5

We need a world full of Joey's. Patrick Wang is brilliant, the film - spectacular. This sums it up:

"I was completely absorbed from beginning to end. What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing. It is a film that avoids any message or statement and simply shows us, with infinite sympathy, how the life of a completely original character can help us lead our own."

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Thanks, Andy.

31-Oct-12: RichG - Rating: 4

Each year Andy gives us one or two unexpected gems. This movie is certainly one. The story was real and heartfelt. Very believable throughout. Casting worked well. The little "Chip" will be around for a long time. Being his first movie the cinematography was crisp and not predictable. Having the star, director, writer (all in one) in the house made the night even more special. I am proud to be a member of The Cinema Society.

31-Oct-12: Sioux - Rating: 3

I came with the intention of writing a full review, but I see that MRoe has already read my mind and done so! The acting was fine, the characters were very likeable, the story was engaging, but the extended camera shots were sometimes like watching paint dry! I don't think I'm an impatient person - I sat through Cloud Atlas with no problem and no looking at my watch. Sadly, I can't say the same about this movie.

That having been said, I did appreciate the special guest, and appreciate that In the Family was a pretty darn good first effort on all three fronts.

31-Oct-12: Mroe - Rating: 3

Well, it was an interesting story and did seem rather relevant to today’s family dynamics and the complicated situations that can evolve from a legal standpoint that can obviously bleed into a much bigger emotional and personal matter. However, it could have used some major editing, there was ample time to establish characters and theme etc. but some of the scenes went on way too long and yes, we were forewarned that it was extremely slow “in the beginning” but it never stopped being slow and so my interest and caring for the characters started to wane after the first hour and a half. Though it may have been some creative choices made on the part of the creator Patrick Wang but in this case it came off rather self indulgent and selfish. It was mentioned in a conversation afterwards that there was a sort of negative or absence of perspective/view that may have been brought on by Mr. Wang’s MIT background and that is an interesting theory and I can support creative/artistic movie making but it doesn’t need to drag on and on and on...

31-Oct-12: jh - Rating: 3

Is it possible to sit fidgeting for almost three hours and still think you’re watching a fine film? The answer last night was yes. Patrick Wang crafted a fine film that deserves critics’ raves and wide distribution. However, IN THE FAMILY fell short of expectations and the contrived feel-good ending contradicted David Robey’s stated family position of “we’re working things out”.

30-Oct-12: Georgi - Rating: 5

The talent of Patrick Wang knows no bounds. Taking his time to tell a realistic story he lets the audience in on an extremely powerful journey told simply and elegantly with deep passion for the characters, the storyline and filmmaking . A special cinematic experience.

30-Oct-12: JF - Rating: 5

This gem of a movie was absolutely satisfying Andy, once I got used to the pacing and the feeling that I was watching a play rather than a movie.

Joey is the most sympathetic, kind and moral character I can remember in a long, long time. I love this guy!

I would urge people to see the movie without reading the reviews. By not knowing any of the plot details I felt like I was experiencing Joey's love of his family and unspeakable loss as the movie progressed, and had the sense of seeing everything unfold through his eyes.

25-Sep-12: Katrina - Rating: 5

Thank you for bringing us this film Andy! Its one of the ones I have been waiting to see, thanks to Roger Ebert's glowing review