The Film
The Robert De Niro of late seems more about quantity than quality. There are a few bright spots in the recent entries of his resume, but it's hard to shake those Fockers and what the hell was he thinking with New Year's Eve? The guy was Johnny Boy, Vito Corleone, Travis Bickle, Jake La Motta and Rupert Pupkin. You get the point.
A bit of the old De Niro shines through Being Flynn, the adaptation of playwright and poet Nick Flynn's memoir, Another Bulls--t Night in Suck City. He has a lot to work with, as absentee father Jonathan Flynn, who also happens to be an alcoholic, a racist, a homophobe, an ex-con, and a self-proclaimed great writer.
After an 18-year absence, Jonathan calls up his son Nick (Paul Dano), looking for help with a move. Isn't that always the way? The two don't stay apart for too long, after Jonathan shows up look for shelter -- at the homeless shelter where Nick just happens to work.
Being Flynn is a rough ride in more ways than one. Helmed by Paul Weitz (American Pie, Little Fockers), the film tries to pack a lot into its 102-minute runtime. Not everything works and what does is a real downer. That said, Jonathan's predicament and deteriorating mind is a playground for De Niro and he eats up every scene. Enjoy.
Want to dissect more about this troubled father/son relationship flick? Check out Beth McCabe's theatrical review of Being Flynn.
The Picture
Despite its grimy, often depressing subject matter, Being Flynn is a pretty good-looking movie. Colors are extremely drab, but it's hard to expect anything more when the most exciting backdrop is inside a homeless shelter. That said, the colors work with the film's tone and are very realistic throughout. The detail on this 2.40:1 transfer is pretty decent, too, especially on those close-ups. De Niro's facial hair and clothing are nice standouts, as is costar Julianne Moore and those gorgeous freckles.
The Sound
Being Flynn is a dialogue-heavy movie and the DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers that very well. However, the film has plenty of street noise, shelter chatter, and music to make the movie a full audio experience. It's certainly nothing you're going to remember or discuss around the watercooler, but it's fairly interesting and above average for what you'd expect from the movie.
The Extras
Besides BD-Live functionality, the lone extra here is "The Heart of Being Flynn." At 6 minutes, this is insanely short, especially when you consider that part of that time is filled with clips from the film. The release is crying out for commentary from Nick Flynn, or even a short about the writer and his real-life experiences. Instead, you get one promo piece and nothing more.
Final Thoughts
Next time you see one of those "world's worst dads" lists, don't be surprised if Jonathan Flynn is featured. The dude has issues -- all of them, in fact. Of course, to make those lists, people would have to see Being Flynn. It's a bit of a tough sell, but worth a look for the audio, video, and a hearty dose of De Niro.
Product Details
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