I am so glad I didn’t pay attention to the critics’ reviews for the movie. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I believe you’ll really like the film if you are looking for a more classical drama.
We have that one room in our childhood homes that is the backdrop of the memories that make us. We retreat there in our minds so that we can visit the warm memories of dear ones who are far away or no longer with us on this earth. ‘Here’ captures this concept perfectly, and builds its story on it. Unlike Forrest Gump, this is a story of the mundane, not extra-ordinary. Maybe that’s why it will resonate with many. You’ll see your dad, mom , lil sis, granpa and their daily struggles, happiness, concerns, ups and downs. Maybe you’ll see your long past years. Either way this sincere atmosphere is one of the movie’s strong suits.
The visuals direction and multi-panel shots are a nice technique to emphasize the time-lapses and how memories function within a set space. It is also a well-made translation from the movie’s original graphic novel source material.
One weak spot is the stories’ inconsistence regarding narrative investment. Certain characters & families don’t spend enough time on the screen or present a compelling chain of events to establish emotional depth. These sections would definitely benefit from a few more scenes to flesh out the characters and their struggles.
Overall, if you are looking for a sincere old-school family drama with a novel twist of time, I’d recommend seeing it. Tom Hanks is bringing back the heart-warming energy of his previous work ‘Here’. 7.5/10