C'mon C'mon

As a big fan of Joaquin Phoenix, I was really excited to finally have the opportunity to see C'mon C'mon last night.  It took me some time to get fully on board with the vibe of the narrative but, once I did, I found it to be an incredibly moving story about what kids can teach adults and how adults can help the kids in their lives.  Johnny (Phoenix) is a radio personality who is currently traveling around the country interviewing children about their views on the state of the world and their future place in it.  He receives an unexpected call from his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffman), from whom he is somewhat estranged, with a request to watch her nine-year-old son Jesse (Woody Norman) while she travels to care for Jesse's father Paul (Scoot McNairy) who is having a mental breakdown.  Johnny is completely unprepared to care for such a precocious and imaginative child and, even though he makes his living asking questions, he becomes uncomfortable when Jesse asks him pointed questions about his personal life.  They eventually form a bond and, through their relationship with each other, Johnny is able to process his emotions and forge a reconciliation with his sister and Jesse is able to express his fears for his father.  As I mentioned, the pacing is incredibly slow (it almost feels like a documentary about a family) and there were times when my mind wandered a bit until I suddenly became completely invested in the characters during one particular moment (it mirrored an experience I had with my own nephew).  Once I finally figured out the concept (and it is a very low concept film), I basically fell in love with it.  Phoenix gives such a warmhearted performance and his chemistry with Norman, who is extraordinary, feels really honest and natural.  At first I found the black and white cinematography to be a bit hazy and out of focus but I eventually realized that it represents the way in which children might view the world so it is highly effective and I loved the use of ambient sound.  I also really enjoyed the integration of Johnny's interviews with the children.  Not a lot happens but this is a beautiful film about human connection and it is one that I definitely want to watch again.