Labor Day

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Language    Sex    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens January 31, 2014 in Dallas

Runs 111 minutes

Labor Day is set over a 5 day period in 1987.  Told from the perspective of naive 13 year-old Henry Wheeler (newcomer Gattlin Griffith), the story revolves around his nearly shut-in mother Adele (Kate Winslet) and an escaped convict Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin) who forces them to take him in while he is on the lam. Adele and Frank each have secrets in their past and forge a bond based on their mutual sadness.

This movie isn't about big things, but about the small things.  Small town life where others know your business, baking as a family (the famous peach pie scene), riding your bike around town, a crush on the new girl.  This is based in the 80's before technology took over and things seemed much simpler.  As the movie plays out, things unravel and this Labor Day weekend will have lasting implications that affect all involved for the rest of their lives.

I thought the moved was slow paced but well-acted.  The camera lingered too long on Henry's welling eyes or Adele's shaking hands but in the end, it was worth the time.

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