Being is Flynn is one of my most anticipated films of the year mainly for two reasons: Bob de Niro is in it and secondly I wanted to convince myself that Paul Dano is a really good actor (I've never been a fan in his previews films).
I have been a follower of Director Paul Weitz's films and the transition of his stories and plots. About a Boy would still be my best pick from his line up. In Being Flynn, I find it very interesting for him to use Robert de Niro (the father) as a tool to deliver the tone of the film and Dano (the son) to emerge his acting from the greatness of his co-actor. Inspired by real-life American writer and poet Nick Flynn's Another Bullshit Night in Suck City: A Memoir, the story is about the writer's struggle of acceptance and realization from his dark past. Nick met his estranged father in a homeless shelter, where he was working at that time. He was in the influence of drugs and has not yet overcome the tragic suicide of his mother, whom he considers as his most influential person in his life.
I find this version of this father and son story very rich and the delivery of the acting of the cast was simply wonderful and impressive. It has given justice again to Mr. De Niro's acting career since has been into small roles and insignificant films in the past 5-10 years. Not even the reunited Godfather cast of De Niro & Pacino in Righteous Kill didn't made it successful both in quality of acting and in the box office as well.
Paul Dano, on the other hand, was also brilliant in the film. Noticeably effective in his role and ultimately emerged himself from Robert De Niro's Jonathan Flynn role which was really a captivating and challenging one for the young actor.
The venue for me (the homeless shelter) where Nick Flynn's job crisscrossed path with his father was perfect for both characters to uncover itself from realization. The shelter symbolizes both characters are in the bottomless pit of their careers yet their discovery uncovers both individuals' talents and capabilities.
I must say I've been intrigue with this type of messages in films similar to October Sky with Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper. This time both father and son characters' profession as writers whom should be equated with calmness and serenity, turned out having fierce roles and intense performance of both key actors. Ironically, difficult it may seem to be watched, I find their acting blended so well that you wouldn't notice 102mins was that fast.
My expectations were all met, looking forward to another great film for De Niro and Dano, as well as the next offering of the director in his upcoming films.
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