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END OF SENTENCE
Director: Elfar Adalsteins Cast: John Hawkes, Logan Lerman, Sarah Bolger, Andrea Irvine, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Sean Mahon, David Grant Wright MPAA
Rating: Running Time: 1:36 Release Date: 5/29/20 (digital & on-demand) |
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Review by Mark Dujsik | May 28, 2020 The father and the son at the center of End of Sentence are both hiding something. They just have different ways of doing so, and it has torn apart their relationship. Michael Armbruster's screenplay digs into these characters in a way that's surprisingly insightful, considering how formulaic the plot is. Frank (John Hawkes), the father, and Sean (Logan Lerman), the son, have suffered the loss of a wife and a mother. Her final request was for the two of them to spread her ashes at a lake in her homeland of Ireland. At first, all we know about the two men is that they are estranged, and it's wholly Sean's decision. After a brief prologue, Sean is released from prison. He has a job lined up in California but needs a way there. Frank, who was waiting at the prison, makes him a deal: If Sean accompanies him to Ireland, Frank will pay the son's way to California, and he'll never have to see his father again. The rest of the story follows the two on road trip, featuring a series of misadventures, across the Emerald Isle. The film, directed by Elfar Adalsteins, could be considered a comedy, if not for the deep melancholy and trauma that define these characters. Frank is like a living doormat, with a face that only seems capable of communicating an empty smile, defeat, or confusion (Even when the grief of being alone finally hits him, Frank's restrained visage doesn't match the reflexive sobbing). The sarcastic Sean doesn't hold back on his thoughts or feelings, except when it comes to the reason that he has burn scars on his back and, covered up with a tattoo, arm. Even Jewel (Sarah Bolger), an infinitely charming woman who joins the two to get out of Dublin, has some pain to hide (We instinctively realize that her neckerchiefs aren't just for style). Hawkes' performance is remarkable in the way he embodies a kind of physical and psychological retreat—from pains both old and anticipated. Lerman is also quite good, especially when Sean's protective guard of attitude drops. End of Sentence may feature various complications, from Jewel's real motives to Frank suspecting his wife may have had an affair. The filmmakers, though, never let them get in the way of examining these characters—how their reactions to past trauma have defined the men they have become. Copyright © 2020 by Mark Dujsik. All rights reserved. |
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